The use of fluorescent probes in cell-counting procedures

Abstract

Abstract This chapter describes the use of fluorescent probes in cell-counting procedures. The theoretical and practical considerations for using fluorescent probes in quantitative analysis are presented along with a worked example using the optical fractionator procedure. It demonstrates the advantages of fluorescent probes for optical sectioning and the preservation of section thickness that results from the preparative methodology making staining with fluorescent probes particularly useful for the implementation of the optical fractionator procedure. It also describes the limitations of fluorescent probes and cautions about their analysis. The chapter concludes with a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of using fluorescent probes for quantitative stereology. When properly applied, fluorescent probes are ideally suited to the three-dimensional sampling requirements of the optical fractionator procedure.