The Environmental Health Program collaborates with microbiologists at the Photomicroscopy and Flow Cytometry Laboratory to develop and apply biomarkers to evaluate the potential impacts of environmental contaminants at the cellular and molecular levels. Because molecular and biochemical responses of cells are preceded by chemical changes in nuclei, cytoplasm, membranes, and extracellular fluids, these responses can be diagnostic of contaminant exposures.
Key Analytical Capabilities
- Cell viability and motility
- Mitochondrial membrane potential
- Apoptosis (programmed cell death)
- Liver enzyme vitality
- Ploidy
- DNA fragmentation
- Cell cycle/proliferation
- Genome size
- Cell counts
- Blood cell type identification
- Epigenetics
- Immunopheno typing
Key Instrumentation
- Flow Cytometer
- Computer Assisted Sperm Motion Analysis (CASA) System
- Microscopes and microscopic image analysis software
- Overview
About the Research
The Environmental Health Program collaborates with microbiologists at the Photomicroscopy and Flow Cytometry Laboratory to develop and apply biomarkers to evaluate the potential impacts of environmental contaminants at the cellular and molecular levels. Because molecular and biochemical responses of cells are preceded by chemical changes in nuclei, cytoplasm, membranes, and extracellular fluids, these responses can be diagnostic of contaminant exposures.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Microscopic video imaging is used for computerized analysis of sperm motility parameters(Credit: Jill Jenkins, USGS. Public domain.) Key Analytical Capabilities
- Cell viability and motility
- Mitochondrial membrane potential
- Apoptosis (programmed cell death)
- Liver enzyme vitality
- Ploidy
- DNA fragmentation
- Cell cycle/proliferation
- Genome size
- Cell counts
- Blood cell type identification
- Epigenetics
- Immunopheno typing
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. Visit Media to see details.Conceptual diagram of the flow cytometry technique. Flow cytometry is a technique for rapidly analyzing large numbers of animal cells using light-scattering, fluorescence, and absorbance measurements.(Credit: Jill Jenkins, USGS. Public domain.)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Eosin-nigrosin staining of spermatozoa from common carp (Cyprinus carpio) testes collected from the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada(Credit: Jill Jenkins, USGS. Public domain.) Key Instrumentation
- Flow Cytometer
- Computer Assisted Sperm Motion Analysis (CASA) System
- Microscopes and microscopic image analysis software
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Flow cytometry results from testicular tissue collected from two yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from Chesapeake Bay tributaries Mattawoman Creek (A, B) and South River (C, D).(Credit: Jill Jenkins, USGS. Public domain.)