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Lipofuscin: Detection and Quantification by Microscopic Techniques

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Advanced Protocols in Oxidative Stress II

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 594))

Abstract

Since lipofuscin, the so-called “aging pigment”, turned out to play a fundamental role in the aging process, particularly in the postmitotic senescence of muscle or neuronal cells, it became a focus of aging and stress research. During normal aging, lipofuscin accumulates in a nearly linear way, whereas its rate of formation can increase in the final stages of senescence or in the progress of several pathologic processes.

Thus, both in senescence and pathologic processes, lipofuscin can be used as a detectable “marker” to estimate the remaining lifetime of single cells, the amount of long-term oxidative stress cells were subjected to or to quantify and qualify a pathologic progress in vivo or in vitro. To enable this, a quick and easy applicable method of detection and quantification of lipofuscin has to be used, as is provided by fluorescence microscopy determining the autofluorescence via of the “aging pigment”.

In this review, we take a look at different methods of detection and quantification of lipofuscin in single cells by using its physical or chemical features.

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  1. Institute for Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, Biofunctionality and Food Safety (140F), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

    Tobias Jung, Annika Höhn & Tilman Grune

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    Donald Armstrong

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Jung, T., Höhn, A., Grune, T. (2010). Lipofuscin: Detection and Quantification by Microscopic Techniques. In: Armstrong, D. (eds) Advanced Protocols in Oxidative Stress II. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 594. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-411-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-411-1_13

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