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We cover the medium with a thin layer of mineral oil, which has been
saturated with gas; in our case CO2/O2/N2, at 37 degrees, and don't use
the lid.  Our mineral oil is from Sigma, other mineral oils may extract
ingredients from the medium. When saturated, gas exchange across the oil
is fine, as the absorption coefficients of CO2 and O2 are similar to those
in water (Kubie, JBC, 1927). We perform imaging for up to five days in
this manner, with no loss of medium and no condensation.


Jim Denegre
The Jackson Laboratory







On 2/21/12 4:42 AM, "Christian Tischer" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

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>
>Hello,
>
>we are using an inverted microscope and need to do long term transmission
>imaging in a 24-well dish. the whole central part of microscope is
>surrounded by 
>a box keeping it at 37 degrees and providing CO2.
>
>so far, we fail to avoid condensation at the plastik cover of wells. the
>even 
>more annoying thing is that the condensation pattern changes from very
>fine to 
>bigger droplets within ca. 10 hours. while the small droplets are
>actually not so 
>bad, the bigger droplets cause severe problems for the transmission
>imaging 
>(introducing some lensing effects).
>
>taking the lid off seems no option, because the wells may dry out over
>10-24 
>hours.
>
>we tried putting some oil on the cover (from the inside of course),
>hoping that 
>it would be more hydrophobic and thus prevent condensation, but
>unfortunately that only helped for a few hours...
>
>Anyone any ideas?
>
>Thanks already!!!
>
>Tischi (ALMF@EMBL Heidelberg)