Figure 2From: Nucleic acid distribution pattern as a possible biomarker for metabolic activities of neoplastic cells: a digitally-aided fluorescence microscopy study on normal and neoplastic lymphocytes of acute and chronic canine lymphocytic leukemiaThin blood smear images of normal lymphocytes from healthy dogs; Wright-Giemsa stain (A, B); fluorescence microscopy images, stained with acridine orange (C, D, E, F) (Capture_6-12-05, Capture_8-12-05). Bar = 6 μm. The normal lymphocytes, as evidenced in panels A and B, have high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, and lack cytoplasmic processes as shown in both Wright-Giemsa and acridine orange-stained preparations. The fluorescing images show a distinct pattern of diffuse yellow-green DSNA fluorescence alongside punctate interconnected channel-like clumps of red SSNA fluorescence within the nuclear regions. Different stages of metabolic activity of the cells are reflected by variable degree of fluorescence by the cells. Narrow cytoplasmic rims of the cells are characterized by intense red SSNA fluorescence.Back to article page