Detection of Apoptosis in Hepatoma Cells under Optical Microscopic Observation after Stained by Six Methods
YANG Lianjun1,SI Xiaohui1,WANG Wenliang2,et al
(1.Bethune International Peace Hospital of PLA, Shijiazhuang,Hebei 050082,China;2.Fourth Military Medical University,Xi'an,Shaanxi 710032,China)
Abstract:Objective To investigate some simple and convenient morphological methods to detect apoptosis under optical microscopic observation, and perform contrast study in them.Methods At first, human hepatocelluar carcinoma cell line HCC9204 cells were affected by 6% ethanol for 6 h to induce apoptosis. The nonfixed cells were stained with trypan blue and by the doublystaining method of acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB),then the cells were fixed and stained with fluorescent dye Hoechst 33 258,MayGrunwaldGiemsa (MGG) and normal H.E stainings, and at last Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed.Results After affected by lowconcentration ethanol to induce apoptosis,most hepatoma cells were negative in trypan blue staining and TUNELpositive.Except for by trypan blue staining, typically morph ologically apoptotic characters such as pyknosis, circled,densestained nucleus and cytoplasm,nucleus granuling,ringing or crescenting,and cytoplasm bubbling in different extent could be seen in the cells stained by AO/EB,Hoechst 33 258,MGG,H.E and TUNEL Besides,early apoptotic cells which were densely green yellowstained or displaying green yellow fragments,late apoptotic cells which were densely cardinal redstained or displaying cardinal red fragments, and cardinal red swollen necrotic cells could be found in the AO/EB doubly stained cells.Conclusions All the above 6 staining methods can be used to detect apoptosis.The morphological characters of apoptotic cells can be observed after stained by all the other 5 methods except for trypan blue staining. Besides detecting apoptosis, early apoptotic cells,late apoptotic cells and necrotic cells can be distinguished by AO/EB doublystaining Not only apoptosis can be detected according to DNA fragmentation, but also the morphological characters of apoptotic cells can be observed in TUNEL staining.
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