Scoring of cytotoxicity by image analysis using animal cell cultures

By Tillmann, U. - Pollet, D. - Miltenburger, H.G.

The estimation and assessment of toxic effects can be made clearer by direct observation of the target object -- the living cell. Following this approach we continuously assess the reactions of cell cultures (at a range of densities) by using image analysis equipment. The parameters evaluated are: growth rate, alteration of cell cycle time, cell progeny, and mortality rate. The use of multi-well culture plates during the observation period enables the effects of different agents at different concentrations to be examined simultaneously under the same experimental conditions. The automatic observation of the fate of many individual cells permits the accurate quantification and characterisation of cytotoxic effects for the exposed cells and their progeny. Using this method, we have examined ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), and Na-aciclovir (NaA), and we demonstrate the distinction between reversible and irreversible cell damage.