Video: Molecules Moving in Living Cells (via wired)
“…the locations of lipid molecules at different depths in mouse skin as acquired with label-free stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) imaging. It starts at the skin’s surface, the ‘stratum corneum’, and descends through the epidermis into the dermis. The brightest areas represent the highest concentrations of lipid molecules. At the beginning, we see a layer of polygonal cells, the ‘corneocytes’. The cells’ bright yellow perimeter indicates that lipids are present in the intercellular space between the cells. A hair follicle shows up in the lipid-contrasted image because of the presence of the oil secreted by the sebaceous glands in the center of the frame. Going deeper into the skin, the sebaceous gland itself comes into view. The cell nuclei are visible as dark spots due to the lack of lipids, and yellow color indicates that the gland cells are rich in lipids. The total video shows a section that is approximately 70 microns thick.”
