Annexin V staining is a common method used to detect apoptosis, or programmed cell death, which is a crucial process in toxicology studies. Annexin V is a protein with a high affinity for phosphatidylserine, a phospholipid that translocates from the inner to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane during early apoptosis. This externalization serves as a marker for apoptosis, allowing researchers to identify and quantify apoptotic cells using flow cytometry or fluorescence microscopy.
