Automated single-cell analysis of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in human lymphocytes

A method of rapidly analyzing hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene in single human lymphocytes with simultaneous sorting is reported. Cells with various levels of hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene were characterized and sorted by means of a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter into three groups with low, intermediate and high amounts of benzo (a) pyrene metabolite. The mean amount per cell was calculated after measuring the fluorescence of the cell suspensions in a fluorometer. Hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene may be detected and quantitated in individual cells at a level of sensitivity less than 10 6 molecules per cell. The sorting capability allows for retrieval of precisely selected samples of cells for further studies of similar or other parameters.