Coloring with the blue of trypan

The coloring with the blue of trypan is a method of coloring of the dead cells .

Principle

The dye used, the Blue of trypan, tends to enter the cells which it meets. Once in the cell, the molecule in question actuates a mechanism of exclusion which will eject this molecule in the external medium. This mechanism requiring of energy, only the cells having a source of ATP can set up it. Thus, an alive cell will expel the molecule and will remain white under the microscope, on the contrary a dead cell will not have the means of rejecting it and will remain blue. However, this molecule being toxic, it ends up killing the cells which all become then blue.

Use

This method is usually used during cellular numeration. One uses a hemacytometer then in order to count the cells in a precise volume.

One can also use this coloring to visualize the dead cells and the Hyphes of mushroom and Stramenopiles.

Some examples

Source

http://www.chimie-biochimie.umoncton.ca/bch/dg/rec/projets.html

Category: Cellular biology

Random links: