Li R, Heng Z, Zhang Z
School of Public Health, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 1999 Mar 30;28(2):83-5.
Comet assay is a method measuring DNA strand beaks on single cell level, which has been developed for about 10 years. Theoretically, apoptotic cells with extensive DNA internucleosomal fragments can be detected by this method. On the basis that apoptosis in immature mice thymocytes could be induced by dexamethasone(DEX), the detection of apoptotic cells by comet assay was studied and compared with agarose gel electrophoresis, morphological observations with Giemsa staining and TUNEL assay. Apoptotic cells showed a comet feature with a very small head, and a large and wide tail. The optimal conditions for electrophoresis in comet assay was 20 volt in 15 minutes. Comet assay is sensitive, valid, rapid and simple and is highly correlated with Giemsa staining and TUNEL assay in detecting apoptotic cells.
彗星试验是一种在单细胞水平上检测DNA链断裂的方法，该方法已经发展了约10年。理论上，这种方法可以检测出具有广泛核小体间DNA片段的凋亡细胞。基于地塞米松（DEX）可诱导未成熟小鼠胸腺细胞凋亡，研究了用彗星试验检测凋亡细胞，并与琼脂糖凝胶电泳、吉姆萨染色形态学观察及TUNEL法进行比较。凋亡细胞呈现出彗星样特征，头部非常小，尾部大而宽。彗星试验电泳的最佳条件是15分钟内20伏。彗星试验灵敏、有效、快速且简便，在检测凋亡细胞方面与吉姆萨染色及TUNEL法高度相关。
