Live imaging- dead cell stains.

Posted by Ethan Cohen on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Live-imaging-dead-cell-stains-tp7586046.html

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We are working with EGFP labeled cells in neural tissue from a transgenic mouse viewed live in oxygenated media using time lapse confocal microscopy on a Leica SP2. When we injure the cell, we would like to label the dead cell(s) with a fluorescent stain.  But I am not too thrilled with the dead cell labels, which bind nuclear DNA from broken cell membranes.

 

Propidium Iodide seems to stain, but is weakly excited by Argon lasers.

7-AAD may not pick up too well as a stain, but is better separated excitation laser wise.

Then there are the Molecular Probes SYTOX dyes, but they often require detergents.

 

Does anybody have a preferred dye/protocol to use for labeling dead cells in a live neural tissue?

Propidium iodide is also displaced by paraformaldehyde too.

 

Ethan.

Web: http://go.usa.gov/cegV3

Ethan Cohen, Ph.D.
Div of Biomedical Physics, WO62 Rm 1204
Office of Science and Engineering Labs,
FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health
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