Flow Cytometric Strategies to Study CNS Development

The technique of flow cytometry was initially developed to count and size particles. However, it has progressively evolved into a sophisticated analytic tool for rapidly quantifying multiple properties of individual cells or cellular constituents in suspended nonhomogeneous populations. All flow cytometry instruments share a common feature: single cells or particles are pressured to flow through a sensing region in which their electrical resistance or optical properties are recorded. Most commonly, these properties are visualized with fluorescent molecules that bind specifically to the biological constituent(s) to be measured. Typically, these fluorescent molecules are excited by laser beam(s) tuned at specific wavelenght(s) and their emission(s) collected with an array of appropriate filters that convey the signals to photomultiplier tubes and ultimately to a computer.