Apoptosis: identification by a critical electrolyte concentration method

A critical electrolyte concentration method previously proposed to distinguish RNA from DNA was considered for a rapid screening of apoptosis at the cellular level. For the monitoring of the apoptotic phenomenon, preparations subjected to anin situ 3 end DNA labelling assay were also analyzed. The results indicated that the critical electrolyte concentration assay as used here is a simple and useful tool for the rapid identification of apoptotic cells and could contribute to the determination of their frequency, localization and other characteristics.This investigation was supported by CNPq (300397/96-8, 520698/96-7) and FAPESP (95/6629-8) Brazilian Foundations and by the US National Cancer PHS (CA 67238).