Confocal laser scanning microscopy: principles, arrangement, application (part 2)

Information on the features of CLSM application in biological investigations is given in the second part of the review. The discussion is mainly focused on the fluorescent methods most widely used in biology and medicine. Sufficiently detailed data on fluorescent dyes and standards for CLSM setting are cited since their nomenclature is wholly formed by foreign manufacturers and vendors and related to consumed materials. The features of dyes define used sources of light and photodetectors. Among numerous examples of CLSM application those are considered that can help readers, in the authors' opinion, to understand capabilities of this field of analytical microscopy. As an example, brief specifications of commercial CLSM from the leading manufacturers of optical research instrumentation are given.