Permeabilization of lymphocytes with polyethylene glycol 1000. Discrimination of permeabilized cells by flow cytometry
The toxicity of polyethylene glycol 1000 (PEG) used similarly as in cell hybridization experiments, has been studied by flow cytometry, measuring the light scattering and fluorescence distributions of PEG-treated human lymphocytes stained with propidium iodide, fluorescein diacetate and acridine orange (AO). The sensitivity of these tests to detect permeabilized, or potentially dead cells, was equal. In addition, PEG proved to interfere with AO staining most likely through the inhibition of its binding to nucleic acids. The decrease of AO fluorescence in cells killed by PEG was unexpected since intercalation of propidium iodide was the same as in alcohol fixed cells. Permeabilization of cells by PEG appears to be an all-or-none phenomenon, accompanied by entrance of PEG into the cells. The findings are described in the context of a review of the currently used flow cytometric techniques to discriminate viable and lethally affected cells; also, the problems of interpretation are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Biophysics, Medical University School of Debrecen, Hungary
- OSTI ID:
- 6586216
- Journal Information:
- Cytometry (Baltimore); (United States), Journal Name: Cytometry (Baltimore); (United States) Vol. 3:1; ISSN CYTOD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Decreased nucleic acid synthesis in low-dose-irradiated lymphocytes--effect of TCGF addition
A preservable two color staining procedure to detect toxicant impacts on algae (Selenastrum capricornutum) using flow cytometry
Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACRIDINE ORANGE
ACRIDINES
ALCOHOLS
AMINES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
AZINES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL FLOW SYSTEMS
CHEMICAL BONDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DYES
FLUORESCEIN
FLUORESCENCE
GLYCOLS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY ACIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IODIDES
IODINE COMPOUNDS
LEUKOCYTES
LIGHT SCATTERING
LUMINESCENCE
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERMEABILITY
PHENOLS
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS
POLYMERS
POLYPHENOLS
PRIMATES
PYRIDINES
SCATTERING
SOMATIC CELLS
VERTEBRATES