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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Apoptotic Biomarkers in Actinomycin D-Treated SiHa Cervical Cancer Cells
Published on: August 26, 2021
Morphological and cytochemical determination of cell death by apoptosis
Douglas J Taatjes1, Burton E Sobel, Ralph C Budd
1Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA. douglas.taatjes@uvm.edu
Abstract:
Several modes of cell death are now recognized, including necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy. Oftentimes the distinctions between these various modes may not be apparent, although the precise mode may be physiologically important. Accordingly, it is often desirable to be able to classify the mode of cell death. Apoptosis was originally defined by structural alterations in cells observable by transmitted light and electron microscopy. Today, a wide variety of imaging and cytochemical techniques are available for the investigation of apoptosis. This review will highlight many of these methods, and provide a critique on the advantages and disadvantages associated with them for the specific identification of apoptotic cells in culture and tissues.
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