Abstract:Objective To compare three different methods for ROS measurement, and analyze their advantages and shortcomings so as to select a suitable and accurate one for detecting ROS in hypoxia-reoxygenation (H-R) model of rat myocardial cell line H9C2. Methods H9C2 cells were plated in an appropriate confluence (80%-90%).The experimental group (H-R 6 h) was exposed to hypoxia for 6 h followed by reoxygenation for 2 h, the control group (CON) was cultured in normoxic condition. Then DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was added into H9C2 cells.After incubation, the fluorescent intensity was detected by fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometer and fluorescence multiscan. Then these data were analyzed with appropriate analysis software. Results Compared with the control group, the results of flow cytometer [CON (152,690 ±34,104) FU/μg, H-R 6 h (325,669 ±12,755) FU/μg] or fluorescence multiscan [CON (282.3 ±12.57) FU/μg, H-R 6 h (1,274 ±37.05) FU/μg] showed that the ROS level of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), but the results from fluorescence microscopy could not distinguish the experimental group from the control group. Conclusions Fluorescence multiscan can better determine the ROS level in H9C2 cells.