Imaging lipid bodies within leukocytes with different light microscopy techniques.

Lipid bodies, also known as lipid droplets, are present in most eukaryotic cells. In leukocytes, lipid bodies are functionally active organelles with central roles in inflammation and are considered structural markers of inflammatory cells in a range of diseases. The identification of lipid bodies has methodological limitations because lipid bodies dissipate upon drying or dissolve upon fixation and staining with alcohol-based reagents. Here we discuss several techniques to detect and visualize lipid bodies within leukocytes by light microscopy. These techniques include staining with osmium or use of different fluorescent probes such as Nile red, BODIPY, Oil red, P96 and immunofluorescence labeling for adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP).