Cell viability assays
ZBIGNIEW DARZYNKIEWICZ (darzynk@nymc.edu)
Sat, 18 Nov 1995 11:56:32 -0500
A transient phase can be observed during cell death (mammalian cells)
or as a resulty of cell stress when the plasma membrane transport
function appears to be impaired but structural integrity of the
membrane still remains preserved. This can be observed during both,
necrosis and apoptosis. Such cells stain with PI faster and with
higher intensity than the intact, live cells. However the rate of
their stainability with PI is slower compared to fully necrotic or
mechanically damaged cells. Interestingly, during this transient
phase the ability of cells to take up rhodamine 123 is increased
(Cancer Res,. 42:799-806, 1982), which may reflect hyperpolarization
of mitochonria (?). It is possible that similar transient phase takes
place in prokaryotes.
Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz
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