Potassium Chloride (KCl) Solution 0.075 M, sterile-filtered

Potassium Chloride (KCl) is a hypotonic solution formulated with water of cell culture grade quality. It is commonly used for various cytogenetic applications, including karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and chromosome analysis.

One of the fundamental techniques in cytogenetics is karyotyping, which involves the analysis and classification of chromosomes based on their size, shape, and banding patterns. KCl is an essential component in the preparation of metaphase spreads for karyotyping.

Due to the lower osmotic pressure of KCl in comparison to cell plasma, this solution can create an osmotic pressure difference that makes it suitable as a lysing reagent. In this process, it causes the cell’s membranes to swell and rupture, exposing the chromosomes for subsequent analysis.

In general, treating cells with KCl facilitates their expansion for optimal spreading of metaphase chromosomes during karyotyping procedures. After treatment, chromosomes can be fixed and stained using various dyes to visualize the banding patterns, allowing cytogeneticists to analyze their structure and identify any abnormalities under the microscope.

The use of KCl, combined with other techniques and dyes, is essential for the study of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders.