The LDH Cytotoxicity Detection Kit is a simple, sensitive, non-radioactive 96-well assay based upon the measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released by damaged cells into the cell culture supernatant. With this kit, LDH present in the culture supernatant participates in a coupled reaction converting yellow tetrazolium salt (INT) into red formazan product. The amount of enzyme activity, measured as absorbance using a microplate reader at 490/492 nm, correlates to the number of damaged cells in the culture. The entire procedure including cell growth, reaction procedure, and measurement is performed in a single 96-well plate.
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a stable cytoplasmic enzyme which is present in most cells. In a cell culture, damage to (or rupture of) cell cytoplasmic membranes results in the release of LDH from cells into the surrounding supernatant. Thus, quantitation of LDH in cell culture supernatants is one means used by investigators as an indicator of cell death.
