Redistribution of bisbenzimide Hoechst 33342 from transplanted cells to host cells

Identification of transplanted cells within host tissue is an important com ponent of many transplantation experiments. in this study, Schwann cells la belled with the fluorochrome bisbenzimide (Hoechst 33342, H33342) and trans duced with the lac-Z gene were introduced into normal white matter and thei r distribution was examined 2 h, 24 h and 4 weeks after transplantation. At 2 and 24 h following transplantation, H33342-labelled cells were more wide ly distributed than lac-Z-labelled cells in both longitudinal and transvers e directions. By 4 weeks following transplantation, no lac-Z-labelled cells could be found. However, H33342-labelled cells were observed in and around the glial scar. Therefore, labelling of host cells by transfer of H33342 d ye from transplanted cells has to be considered whenever this dye is used a s a transplant marker. NeuroReport 11:1013-1016 (C) 2000 Lippincott William s & Wilkins.