Comparative Study of Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis for Detection of Environmental Pollution

摘要

A study was made for investigating the significance of SCGE (single cell gel electrophoresis) and flow cytometry in Detection of Environmental Pollution. Two nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds were studied with SCGE, and corresponding flow cytometry was made for ascertaining the relationship of these two methods. SCGE results showed the significant difference in trail length and DNA damage unit between a control group and treatment groups at various concentration levels (5 and 50 mg/L) of the two nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds on Tetrahymena (p<0.01). With the same concentration, there was also a significant difference between pyridine treatment group and quinoline treatment group (p<0.01). Flow Cytometry results showed the cell number with low DNA fluorescence intensity increased significantly in pyridine or quinoline treatment groups comparing with control. Compared with flow cytometry, SCGE could detect the subject toxicity in 30 mins after chemical treatment. The method is rapid, sensitive and convenient which only needs few samples and some regular apparatus. So it suggested SCGE might be a good alternative method to determine toxicity in the field of environmental protection, medical and food industry.