In this chapter several fluorescent probes for the assessment of cell viability,
types of cell death, identification of signals, cellular traffic and connections will be
described. These biomedical fields have increasing interest [1-3]. The fluorescence
histochemistry of enzymatic activity is currently applied in assays for cell viability,
apoptotic processes, and detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Several probes of
viability and signaling are also markers of oxidative stress and redox visualization.
Numerous probes are now commercially available for studies on cell metabolism and
toxicity, signal transduction, drug screening, molecular diagnosis, etc. Fluorescent
labels and biosensors are applied to perform quali- and quantitative analysis of normal
and pathological cell processes (i.e. sensing dyes for trans-membrane potential, ions,
ROS, pH, etc). There exist also approaches to the direct real-time signal imaging of
live-cells in vitro and in vivo, and for 2D and 3D analysis.
Keywords: Apoptosis, Autophagy, Calcein-AM, Comet assay, Genotoxicity,
H2DCFDA, Halo assay, Hexidium iodide, H-33342, Hydroethidine, Mitotic
catastrophe, Necrosis, Nitric oxide, ROS, Retrograde axonal tracers, Senescence,
TUNEL assay, Trypan blue.
