Our group is starting to work with BAL samples from mice. One of our aims is to analyze BAL cells by differential cell count. Many authors report doing a cytocentrifugation, but we don't have this equipment. Is there an alternative to cytocentrifugation? Does anyone have a protocol that can help us?
you can make spot or smear specimens. to make the cells adhere to the object glass you can coat using poly L lysine or APES. Make cell supension, better in complete medium or liquid that contains protein such as FBS or other serum. make small spots or smear. you can dry first or wait until nearly dried, then fix using 100% methanol or 40% formol saline or 95% alcohol, or other fixative.
the fixative will coagulate protein that retains the cells, so the cells will stick to the object glass. I usualy used 100 % methanol and drop the methanol on the object glass, let the liquid go down and it will be dried quickly.
However, the background may be noisy, not as clean as if you use cytospin.