In vivo staining with the fluorescence marker PKH26 in experimental fat cell transplantation. Technique and initial results
Rieck, B.; Schlaak, S.; Berger, A.
Langenbecks Archiv für Chirurgie. Suppl. Kongressband. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie. Kongress 115(Suppl I): 237-243
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0942-2854 PMID: 14518251 Document Number: 484756
Experimental autologous adipocyte transplantation has to cope with the problem of differentiation between transplanted fat cells and local fat tissue of the recipient site. In this paper we present a procedure for marking vital fat cells and for tracking them over more than 6 months. An adipocyte suspension is marked by PKH26 ZynLinker (Zynaxis, Malvern, PA) and reimplanted into the animal. In a confocal microscope, the fluorescent dye is easily detected, and the varying intensity of the signal helps to differentiate between viable adipocytes, necroses, and oil cysts. An image analyzing system (OPTIMAS) allows for automatic planimetry and stereometry for viable and necrotic cells. Hence, the ratio between viable and necrotic transplanted cells can be measured exactly for the first time in fat transplantation research.