Improved sensitivity in flow cytometric intracellular ionized calcium measurement using fluo-3/Fura Red fluorescence ratios.

Measurement of changes in intracellular ionized calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) has proved to be of wide use in the study of cellular responses to activating stimuli. The fluorescent dye Indo-1 has successfully been used in flow cytometry for this purpose, and when used as a ratiometric indicator it provides optimum sensitivity and accuracy. Unfortunately, this dye requires ultraviolet (UV) excitation which is often not available. We show here that similar results can be obtained using a ratio of green to red fluorescence from the simultaneous loading of the dyes Fura Red and fluo-3. Both Fura Red and fluo-3 are excited using the commonly available blue 488 nm laser line. With appropriate concentrations of the two dyes, the magnitude of response with the fluo-3/Fura Red ratio is greater than that achieved with indo-1, while the intercellular variation in measurement is similar to that seen with indo-1. Analyses can be simultaneously combined with immunofluorescent detection of PE-labeled antibodies to enable [Ca2+]i measurement within cell subsets.