Staining with ANS fluorescent dye reveals distribution of mitochondria and lipid droplets in cultured Leydig cells.

After 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonate (ANS) staining two types of structures (spherical and elongated) were observed in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells. The spherical structures were predominantly localized in the perinuclear area, whereas the elongated forms were rather noticed in peripheral cytoplasm as well as in cellular processes. Comparison of the obtained pictures with electron micrographs suggests that the elongated structures represent mitochondria. On the other hand Oil Red O staining revealed that spherical structures corresponded to lipid droplets. Thus ANS can be used in studies on distribution and/or redistribution of mitochondria and lipid droplets in cultured cells.