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What are BrdU cells?

Author

Penelope Carter

Updated on February 19, 2026

What are BrdU cells?

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is a thymidine analog that incorporates DNA of dividing cells during the S-phase of the cell cycle. As such, BrdU is used for birth dating and monitoring cell proliferation.

Accordingly, what does BrdU measure?

BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine / 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) is an analog of the nucleoside thymidine used in the BrdU assay to identify proliferating cells. BrdU labeling can be performed in vitro for cell lines and primary cell cultures, or in vivo for labeling cells within a living animal.

Beside above, how is BrdU incorporated into DNA? BrdU (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine) is a thymidine analogue which is incorporated into the cells of DNA synthetic phase. Replicating cells undergo DNA synthesis in a highly regulated, S-phase of the cell cycle.

Hereof, what is BrdU and how does it detect mitosis?

Anti-Bromodeoxyuridine Immunocytochemistry

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is a thymidine analog to which monoclonal antibodies have been developed. This methodology allows detection of endothelial cells in the S phase at the light microscopic level but, unlike autoradiography, there is no 3- to 4-week exposure period.

Is BrdU toxic to cells?

Consequently, BrdU is a toxic mutagenic substance and can cause abnormalities in DNA transcription and protein translation, which could lead to mutation and cell toxicity, compromising the overall health and behavior of the organisms, both in fetal and in postdevelopmental stages [14–16].

How is BrdU used?

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is a thymidine analog that incorporates DNA of dividing cells during the S-phase of the cell cycle. As such, BrdU is used for birth dating and monitoring cell proliferation.

How does BrdU cause mutation?

During S phase of the cell cycle (when DNA replication occurs), BrdU can be incorporated in place of thymidine in newly synthesized DNA molecules of dividing cells. Because BrdU can replace thymidine during DNA replication, it can cause mutations, and its use is therefore potentially a health hazard.

What is the principle of MTT assay?

principle is that, cell utilizes the yellow tetrazolium salt which is metabolized by mitochondrial succinic dehydrogenase activity of proliferating cells to yield a purple formazan product by the mitochondria of viable cell .

What is a BrdU assay?

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assays have long been used to detect DNA synthesis in vivo and in vitro. The key principle of this method is that BrdU incorporated as a thymidine analog into nuclear DNA represents a label that can be tracked using antibody probes.

What is thymidine used for?

The thymidine analog 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) is used to label dividing cells. BrdU is injected intraperitoneally and incorporates into DNA being replicated where it will remain for the life of the cell.

Is BrdU a stain?

BrdU Staining and Labeling Protocols

BrdU (5′-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine) is a thymidine analog that has been established as a popular tool in cancer and neuroscience research for determining cell proliferation rates.

Is BrdU light sensitive?

BrdU is light sensitive and should be added in the dark. Cells pulsed with BrdU may be photosensitive — incubations should be in the dark as well.

What is proliferation in biology?

Cell proliferation is the process that results in an increase of the number of cells, and is defined by the balance between cell divisions and cell loss through cell death or differentiation.

What is BrdU staining?

Anti-Bromodeoxyuridine Immunocytochemistry

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is a thymidine analog to which monoclonal antibodies have been developed. This methodology allows detection of endothelial cells in the S phase at the light microscopic level but, unlike autoradiography, there is no 3- to 4-week exposure period.

What is the S phase of the cell cycle?

S phase is the period of wholesale DNA synthesis during which the cell replicates its genetic content; a normal diploid somatic cell with a 2N complement of DNA at the beginning of S phase acquires a 4N complement of DNA at its end.

What is 3H thymidine?

Metabolic incorporation of 3H-thymidine into cellular DNA is a widely used protocol to monitor rates of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Using stable isotope-labeled thymidine, we demonstrate that 3H-thymidine induces dose-dependent inhibition of the rate of DNA synthesis.

How does propidium iodide staining work?

Propidium iodide (or PI) is a fluorescent intercalating agent that can be used to stain cells and nucleic acids. PI binds to DNA by intercalating between the bases with little or no sequence preference. PI also binds to RNA, necessitating treatment with nucleases to distinguish between RNA and DNA staining.

How does EdU staining work?

In EdU staining, EdU is incorporated into newly synthesized DNA by cells within a sample. A fluorescent azide, such as iFluor-488, is then added. The fluorescent azide is small enough to diffuse freely through native tissues and DNA, and it covalently cross-links to the EdU in a 'click' chemistry reaction.

How is bromodeoxyuridine BrdU incorporated in cells?

During S phase of the cell cycle (when DNA replication occurs), BrdU can be incorporated in place of thymidine in newly synthesized DNA molecules of dividing cells. Bromodeoxyuridine releases gene silencing caused by DNA methylation.

What sort of circulating or locally secreted factors can stimulate cells to divide?

Chemical messengers such as hormones and cytokines stimulate cell division.

Is BrdU a carcinogen?

BrdU is considered hazardous as it has mutagenic and strong teratogenic properties. This agent disrupts the normal activity of the cell. It is a suspected carcinogen and therefore exposure should be kept as low as reasonably achievable.

Why is radioactive thymidine used?

Radioactive Thymidine cell proliferation assays have been used since for over 40 years to detect whether cells are growing. The principle is simple: cells will incorporate Thymidine into their DNA as they proliferate.

What is EdU Labelling?

EdU-labelling allows cells to be isolated without denaturing RNA, allowing researchers determine the transcriptional profile of cells. This approach has been used to assess transcription in neuronal cells and tissues that have recently divided either in vitro or in vivo.

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