[Cell staining for flow cytometry]

Abstract

The innovation of biotechnology and computer technology makes it possible to give a quantitative analysis of cellular constituents and to evaluate cellular function accurately. Flow cytometry, which is one of such a new technology, coupled with successive developments of new fluorescence dyes greatly contributes to not only biological research fields but clinical medicine. This article reviews fluorochromes and cell staining with them for flow cytometry, focusing on the measurements of nuclear DNA content. Many of fluorescence dyes binds specifically to nucleic acid. Some of them intercalate double stoichiometrically stranded DNA and the illumination of an appropriate wavelength light excites the dyes, resulting in bright fluorescence proportional to the amount of DNA. However, it is necessary for flow cytometry to realize an optimal condition of nuclear staining with fluorochromes.