Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Toxicity of DiI for embryonic rat motoneurons and sensory neurons in vitro

Journal Article · · Life Sciences; (United States)
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson (United States)

The carbocyanine dye of DiIC{sub 18}(3) (DiI) is commonly used for both anterograde and retrograde labeling of neurons, including live neurons in situ and in vitro. In the present experiments, DiIC{sub 18}(3) was used to label motoneurons in the spinal cords and sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia of embryonic rats. When the neurons from these regions were placed in culture, the neurons labeled by the dye were found to die rapidly, suggesting that DiIC{sub 18}(3) can be toxic to neurons of these types. A related dye, DiIC{sub 12}(3), was found to be equally suitable for labeling these neurons, and was found not to have detectable toxic effects in vitro.

OSTI ID:
5863089
Journal Information:
Life Sciences; (United States), Journal Name: Life Sciences; (United States) Vol. 49:26; ISSN 0024-3205; ISSN LIFSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English