Confocal laser scanning microscopy of calcium dynamics in living cells

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is widely used to monitor intrace llular calcium levels in Living cells loaded with calcium-sensitive fluorop hores. This review examines the basic advantages and limitations of CLSM in in vivo imaging analyses of calcium dynamics. The benefits of utilizing ra tioed images and dextran-conjugated fluorophores are addressed, and practic al aspects of handling confocal datasets are outlined. After considering so me relatively new microscopical methods that can be used in conjunction wit h conventional CLSM, possible future applications of confocal techniques in analyses of intracellular calcium dynamics are discussed. (C) 1999 Wiley-L iss, Inc.