Analysis of γH2AX-stained DNA double-strand breaks by automated microscopy.

<p>γH2AX focus analysis was assessed in PBMCs immediately, 1 h and 20 h after indicated exposure conditions. (A) Representative images of DAPI (blue) and γH2AX-stained (green) PBMCs measured 1 h after indicated exposure. Bar: 5 μm. (B) Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of γH2AX-level, (C) amount of mean γH2AX foci/cell and (D) mean foci ratio from 16 independent experiments analyzed at three different time points after exposure as mean ± SEM (***: P ≤ 0.001; **: P ≤ 0.01; *: P ≤ 0.05; ns: P > 0.05). Cells with nuclei exhibiting the maximum γH2AX fluorescence signal throughout the whole nucleus were classified as pan-stained. These cells were recorded separately and not included into γH2AX focus and intensity analysis.