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Flow Cytometry

Flow Cytometry

The development of flow cytometry techniques began in 1934 with initial attempts by Andrew Moldavan, a bacteriologist who counted the cells in a flowing capillary system. Moldavan pumped cells through a capillary tube focused under a microscope for visualization. The invention of photometry allowed the measurement of differentially-stained cells, and Louis Kamentsky developed the first multiparameter flow cytometer in 1965 to identify and count the cancer cells in cervical tissue specimens.
In...

The Resting Membrane Potential

The Resting Membrane Potential

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Measurement of Mitochondrial Mass and Membrane Potential in Hematopoietic Stem Cells and T-cells by Flow Cytometry

Measurement of Mitochondrial Mass and Membrane Potential in Hematopoietic Stem Cells and T-cells by Flow Cytometry

Published on: December 26, 2019

Estimation of membrane potential by flow cytometry.

Howard M Shapiro¹

¹West Newton, Massachusetts, USA.

Current Protocols in Cytometry

|September 5, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Estimating cellular membrane potential is crucial for understanding cell activation and function. This study presents flow cytometry methods using fluorescent dyes to measure membrane potential in eukaryotic and bacterial cells.

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Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics
Microbiology

Background:

Cellular membrane potential arises from ion concentration differences across the cytoplasmic membrane.
Membrane potential fluctuations are early indicators of cell activation, impacting development, function, and pathology.
Ionic shifts are implicated in transmembrane signaling following cell surface ligand-receptor interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide reliable methods for estimating membrane potential in individual cells.
To enable the study of membrane potential changes during cell activation processes.
To offer tools for both eukaryotic and bacterial cell analysis.

Main Methods:

Utilizes flow or static cytometry techniques.
Employs cationic or anionic lipophilic fluorescent probes, known as distributional dyes.
Presents two distinct protocols, one for eukaryotic and bacterial cells, and a more accurate one exclusively for bacteria.

Main Results:

Successful estimation of membrane potential in individual cells is achievable.
The methods allow for the assessment of membrane potential changes related to cell activation.
Two protocols offer flexibility for different cell types and accuracy requirements.

Conclusions:

Flow cytometry with fluorescent dyes is an effective approach for measuring membrane potential.
Accurate membrane potential measurement aids in understanding cell signaling and function.
The presented methods are valuable for research in cell biology and microbiology.