Vitality measurement using spectrum shift in Hoechst 33342 stained cells.
A bivariate flow cytometric technique has been developed in which Hoechst 33342 stained vital cells are discriminated from early damaged cells by differences in their fluorescence emission spectra. A discrete population of cells with intact cell membranes passing from vital to dead could be identified by using propidium iodide exclusion in combination with a concentration-independent spectrum shift of Hoechst fluorescence to longer wavelengths. The appearance after injury of two subsets of cells with intact membranes representing vital and early damaged cells, respectively, indicates two types of binding of Hoechst 33342 to these cells, presumably resulting from differences in chromatin structure. The method was tested in murine and human hemopoietic cell lines by cytotoxic treatment with cytosine arabinoside and interleukin 3 deprivation in factor-dependent lines. The power of the method was demonstrated by a cell cycle analysis of the early damaged cells after both cytotoxic treatment and growth factor deprivation.
Institut für Experimentelle Hämatologie, Gesellschaft für Strahlen- und Umweltforschung München, Federal Republic of Germany.
J W
JW
Ellwart
P
P
Dörmer
D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004249:DNA Damage; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D011419:Propidium; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D001562:Benzimidazoles; D007377:Interleukin-3; D003561:Cytarabine; D011419:Propidium; D004247:DNA; C017807:bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride