Side population

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In flow cytometry, a side population (SP) is a sub-population of cells that is distinct from the main population on the basis of the markers employed. By definition, cells in a side population have distinguishing biological characteristics (for example, they may exhibit stem cell-like characteristics), but the exact nature of this distinction depends on the markers used in identifying the side population. Recent studies on testicular stem cells indicate that more than 40% of the SP (defined in this case as cells that show higher efflux of DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342) was undifferentiated spermatogonia, while other differentiated fractions were represented by only 0.2%.^[1]

[edit] Reference

[1] Takubo K, Ohmura M, Azuma M, Nagamatsu G, Yamada W, Arai F, Hirao A, Suda T. (2008)Stem cell defects in ATM-deficient undifferentiated spermatogonia through DNA damage-induced cell-cycle arrest.Cell Stem Cell. 2(2):170-82