Cells in Transition
Howard Shapiro (hms@shapirolab.com)
Mon, 20 Nov 1995 08:51:40 -0500
Regarding the dye uptake characteristics of cells which don't seem clearly
alive or dead, Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz notes that "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 mitochondria (?)". Rhodamine 123 staining is known to vary with the
activity of efflux pumps, and in states in which membrane permeability is
altered, while mitochondrial membrane potential may very well be changed, it
seems likely that staining with R123 could be affected in a
potential-independent manner as well.
--Howard