FCM for viability and ROS of C.gigas oocytes

The purpose of this study was to design two assays to measure viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of Pacific oyster oocytes using flow cytometry (FCM) and to apply these assays to determine oocyte responses to in vitro exposure to the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum.
Conclusion:
FCM was revealed to be a good tool to measure viability and ROS production of oocytes of Pacific oyster. A whole culture of Alexandrium minutum caused a significant increase in oocyte ROS production, which gradually increased with the age of the culture, but viability was not affected. Effect of the supernatant of the same A. minutum culture did not cause significant modifications of oocyte morphology, viability, or ROS level.
Notes:
Sample description is given in the attached excel file "sample description.xls" To set up viability, oocytes were heat-killed to have PI positive control. Concerning Alexandrium minutum exposure, three different samples of oocytes were tested for each condition.