Dihydroethidium

Description

Dihydroethidium is a cell-permeable blue fluorescent dye, which intercalates with nucleic acids and emits a red fluorescence detectable qualitatively by fluorescent microscopy or quantitatively by HPLC. It is a superoxide indicator. It exhibits blue fluorescence in the cytosol until oxidizedto ethidium, where it intercalates within the cell's DNA, staining its nucleus a bright fluorescent red. It is neuroprotective by reducing superoxide in mice after stroke. It has been used to detect reactive oxygen species during the phagocytic respiratory burst and for the detection of intracellular superoxide in cultured cells.

Chemical Properties

DIHYDROETHIDIUM is pink to purple fine crystalline powder

Uses

DIHYDROETHIDIUM is redox indicator. Blue fluorescence until oxidized to ethidium. Can be used for detecting superoxide radical in cells, tissues and organisms.

Uses

Dihydroethidium, also known as hydroethidine, is a dye that can permeate viable cells and accumulate in the nucleus after it is dehydrogenated to ethidium bromide and is used to measure oxygen reduction in phagocytes during respiratory burst. In the presence of an oxidant it will fluoresce and has been used as a dye in flow cytometry. Studies have used Dihydroethidium to study alveolar macrophages, blood leukocytes, and epithelial cells, among others, and has be used to measure intracellular H2O2 and O2-, and reactive oxygen. Dyes and metabolites.

Excitation / Emission Maximum

490 nm/590 nm