Imaging of oxidative stress at subcellular level by confocal laser scanning microscopy after fluorescent derivatization of cellular carbonyls.

Confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy plus image videoanalysis was used to visualize the tissue areas and the subcellular sites first involved by oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, in the well-established experimental model of lipid peroxidation induced by haloalkane intoxication in the liver cell. The fluorescent reagent 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid hydrazide was employed to derivativize the carbonyl functions originating from the lipoperoxidative process in situ, in liver cryostat sections from in vivo intoxicated rats, as well as in isolated hepatocytes exposed in vitro to the pro-oxidant action of haloalkanes. The results obtained indicate that: 1) the detection of fluorescent derivatives of carbonyls indeed offers a gain in sensitivity, 2) haloalkane-induced lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes primarily involves the perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum, whereas the plasma membrane and the nuclear compartment are unaffected, and 3) lipid peroxidation also induces an increase of liver autofluorescence.