In vitro detection of cytotoxicity using FluoroJade-C

We describe here a novel method for the determination of cytotoxicity in cell cultures using Fluoro-Jade C (FJ-C). FJ-C has been previously used for the assessment of neurodegeneration in fixed brain tissue samples, and has never been utilized in live cell cultures or in different types of cells other than neurons. In the present study we examined the utility of FJ-C for the determination of cytotoxicity in vitro. Various cell cultures were evaluated including neural stem cells, brain microvessel endothelial cells, and SH-SY5Y, PC12 and MDCK cells. Cytotoxicities induced by toxicants in cell cultures, as determined by the FJ-C labeling, were further confirmed by commonly used cytotoxicity assays. This in vitro approach is simple, fast, and sensitive and, thus, has the potential to augment if not replace currently used cell-based cytotoxicity assays.