SEQUENTIAL IDENTIFICATION OF APOPTOTIC AND NECROTIC CELLS ON INDIVIDUAL CYTOSPIN PREPARATIONS

Here, we describe a simple methodology which allows the consecutive di fferentiation of apoptotic and necrotic cells on the same cytospin pre paration of fresh and cultured cells. In this methodology, necrotic ce lls are initially identified on the cytospin preparations using trypan blue followed by the identification of in situ DNA fragmentation usin g the TUNEL assay. Identification of trypan blue and TUNEL positive ce lls in the same section permits the simultaneous assessment of necroti c and apoptotic cells. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.