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The Analytical Electron Microscopy Laboratory
Includes scanning and scanning transmission electron microscopes equipped for x-ray
microanalysis and low temperature electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. Expressions
of interest in collaborative or contract research using x-ray microanalysis or low
temperature electron microscopy are welcome.
Research interests include the development and application of methods of biological
x-ray microanalysis, ion and water transport in animal secretory epithelia and mechanisms
of calcification in scleractinian corals.
X-ray microanalysis is applied to frozen samples in the form of frozen - hydrated bulk samples and
freeze-dried sections to generate quantitative elemental images at the tissue, cell and
subcellular levels.
Current research is centered on the mechanisms of ion and water secretion by the
Malpighian tubules of an insect Teleogryllus oceanicus. The nature of the ion transport
systems and their regulation is being determined by measuring the effects of specific
inhibitors, agonists and hormones on secretion rates of fluid and ions. Elemental
composition of secreted fluid is measured by x-ray microanalysis of microdroplets.
Intracellular changes in elemental composition, in response to these same agents, are
measured by x-ray microanalysis.
Other x-ray microanalytical research includes studies of the effects of cadmium on the
intracellular elemental composition of kidney proximal tubule cells and the subcellular
distribution of cadmium, biomineralisation in barnacles and corals, charge shielding in
mucins, the elemental composition of ascidian blood cells and x-ray microanalysis of
elasmobranch rectal glands.
Research programs on scleractinian corals include studies of calcification mechanisms in
hermatypic and tropical ahermatypic corals and the effects of temperature on a temperate
zooxanthellate coral.
Enquiries from prospective graduate students welcome.
Dr Alan Marshall
Reader and Associate Professor
School of Zoology
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Vic. 3083
AUSTRALIA.
Ph : +61 3 9479-2250 Fax: +61 3 9479-1551
E-mail : A.Marshall@zoo.latrobe.edu.au
Manager, Advanced Electron Microscopy Facility
Joint Director, National Cryotechniques Centre
Marshall, A.T. (1996) Calcification in hermatypic and ahermatypic corals. Science 271:
637-639.
Marshall, A.T. and Wright, O.P. (1995) X-ray microanalysis of coral mucus. Microbeam
Analysis 4: 305 - 315. (invited article)
Marshall, A.T., Kyriakou, P., Cooper, P.D., Coy, R. and Wright A.W. (1994) Osmolality of
rectal fluid from two species of osmoregulating brine - fly larvae (Diptera: Ephydridae).
J. Insect Physiol. 41: 413 - 418.
Marshall, A.T. (1994) Light element X-ray microanalysis in biology. Scanning Microscopy
Supplement 8: 187-201.
Marshall, A.T., Schroen, C.J. and Condron, R.J. (1994) X-ray microanalysis of renal
proximal tubules in cadmium-treated rats. J. Submicrosc. Cytol. Pathol. 26: 59-66.
Condron, R.J., Schroen, C.J. and Marshall, A.T. (1994) Morphometric analysis of renal
proximal tubules in cadmium-treated rats. J. Submicrosc. Cytol. Pathol. 26: 50-58.
Marshall, A.T., Cooper, P.D., Rippon, G.D. and Patak, A. (1993) Ion and fluid secretion by
different segments of the Malpighian tubules of the black field cricket, Teleogryllus
oceanicus. J. exp. Biol. 177: 1-22.
Marshall, A.T. and Patak, A. (1993) Use of ultra thin window detectors for biological
microanalysis. Scanning Microscopy 7: 677-691.
Marshall, A.T. and Wright, O.P. (1993) Confocal laser scanning light microscopy of the
extra-thecal epithelia of scleractinian corals. Cell & Tissue Res. 272: 533-543.
The Advanced Electron Microscopy Facility includes a field emission
scanning electron microscope with low temperature capability and a 200kV high contrast
transmission electron microscope. This is a central facility for the Faculty of Science
and Technology in association with the School of Botany, University of Melbourne.
Applications to use this equipment or expressions of interest in collaborative or contract
research are welcome.
The National Cryotechniques Centre is a joint facility operated by the
Faculty of Science and Technology and the School of Botany, University of Melbourne. It
includes a high pressure freezer and equipment for low temperature preparation of
biological samples for electron microscopy. Applications to use this equipment or
expressions of interest in collaborative or contract research are welcome. |