Effective Cell-Based Assays for Marked and Acute Cytotoxicity

Effective Cell-Based Assays for Marked and Acute Cytotoxicity 

Assays are frequently needed to detect marked and acute cytotoxicity that may confound the interpretation of cell-based efficacy assays. Neutral red uptake is one of the most commonly used cytotoxicity assays and is used in the regulatory phototoxicity assay on NT3 fibroblasts [13]. It has been show to be more sensitive than assays for mitochondrial reductive capacity such as the tetrazolium reductase assays, ATP depletion assays, or for cell permeabilization or mpture such as dye uptake or lactate dehydrogenase leakage. Lysosomes take up, protonate and trap neutral red when cellular ATP production is sufficient to maintain pH gradients. 

---