Apoptosis light microscopy

Fig. 3. Micrograph demonstrating die effect of NaSal on morphological changes in eosinophils (W16). After eosinophils were treated for 12 h (a) without or (b) with 20 mM NaSal, which is an apoptosis-inducing agent, cells were harvested and stained with Hemacolor Rapid blood smear staining set. The stained cells were examined by light microscopy. The arrows depict the apoptotic eosinophils...

On a final note of caution, however, it should be stressed that no flow cytometric technique is yet able to diagnose apoptotic cells, and in all cases, if necrotic cells are present, they will cause inaccuracies in the results Therefore, prior to flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis, diagnosis should be confirmed by light microscopy. 

Apoptosis can be distinguished from necrosis by morphologic criteria, using either light or electron microscopy. Toxicants, however, do not always act in a clear-cut fashion, and some toxicants can induce both apoptosis and necrosis either concurrently or sequentially. 

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