Hoechst 33342 dye uptake as a probe of membrane permeability changes in mammalian cells.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.78.1.363
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T08:27:26Z
• Authors: M E Lalande; V Ling; R G Miller
• Keywords: Colchicine; Membrane permeability; Efflux

Flow cytometric analysis of the uptake DNA-specific and fluorescent probe Hoechst 33342 (HO342) offers a simple rapid method for measuring membrane transport rates in mammalian cells identifying cellular subpopulations that differ their rates. In Chinese hamster ovary wild-type cell line three colchicine-resistant lines derived from it, rate HO342 dye decreases as stepwise resistance to colchicine increases. A colchicine-sensitive revertant shows an increased uptake. Drug these has previously been shown be related changes rate. manner similar colchicine, nonsaturation kinetics. The effects KCN, metabolic inhibitor, on uptake, both presence absence glucose, is observed When murine spleen are stained with under appropriate conditions, one sees two populations lymphocytes differing fluorescence intensity, difference not DNA content. show same relative appears, therefore, enter by mechanism colchicine--i.e., unmediated diffusion--and can used cytoplasmic permeability. Potential applications studies drug resistance, detection activated T cells, recognition lymphocyte discussed.