The aim of the present study was to develop a flow cytometric procedure for the quantification of the proportion of viable, apoptotic, and necrotic polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (PMNL) isolated from both low- and high-somatic-cell-count quarter milk samples. Milk PMNL were differentiated from other cells by indirect fluorescent labeling using a primary anti-bovine granulocyte monoclonal antibody (CH138A) and an Alexa 647-labeled secondary antibody. Polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes were identified flow cytometrically based on their cytoplasmic granularity and CH138A-positivity. Additional labeling with annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide was used to determine milk PMNL viability. Thirty milk samples were run in parallel to assess the repeatability of the immunoassay and 6 repeated measurements per sample were performed to assess the instrument stability. Fluorescence microscopic verification of the CH138A staining pattern showed both a high sensitivity (90.9%) and specificity (92.3%). The combination of the side-scatter properties of granulated PMNL and CH138A-Alexa 647 positivity allows the distinction of labeled PMNL from other milk cells and particles that may bind nonspecifically, and from autofluorescent particles present in milk. Quantification of the proportion of PMNL and viable, apoptotic, and necrotic subpopulations in parallel samples gave repeatable results with concordance correlation coefficients varying between 0.93 and 0.99. The average coefficient of variation for repeated measurements in identical samples ranged between 4.2 and 9.7%. In conclusion, this is the first flow cytometric method suited for the simultaneous quantification of viable, apoptotic, and necrotic bovine milk PMNL in a straightforward manner.
