Distribution of acridine orange accumulating particles in neuroblastoma cells during differentiation and their characterization by subcellular fractionation and electron microscopy
Zeitz, M.; Lange, K.; Keller, K.; Herken, H.
Cellular and Molecular Biology Including Cyto-Enzymology 25(5): 305-314
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0145-5680 PMID: 535006 Document Number: 139397
Vital staining of C 1300 neuroblastoma monolayer cells with the fluorescent dye acridine orange produced characteristic patterns of red fluorescent particles in the cytoplasm, the distribution of which was dependent on the stage of differentiation and the condition of the intracellular microtubular system. The nature of the red fluorescent structures was evaluated by EM and subcellular fractionation studies. At the ultrastructural level the red fluorescent granules seemed to be correlated with the Golgi complex and Golgi-derived structures, e.g., lysosomes and transmitter storage vesicles. Subcellular fractionation studies showed that acridine orange was concentrated in fractions which also contained the highest amount of acid phosphatase and were composed of electron dense vesicles. The vital acridine orange staining possibly represents an easy and quick tool for the examination of localization and fate of Golgi-derived vesicles during cell cycle phases and cellular differentiation.