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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
08:08
In vitro Time-lapse Live-Cell Imaging to Explore Cell Migration toward the Organ of Corti
Published on: December 4, 2020
4.2K
3D Tracking of Migrating Cells from Live Microscopy Time-Lapses
Sébastien Tosi1, Kyra Campbell2,3
1Advanced Digital Microscopy Core Facility (ADMCF), Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain. sebastien.tosi@irbbarcelona.org.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 22, 2019
Summary
This study introduces an automated 3D cell tracking protocol for live imaging, enabling precise analysis of migrating cell populations in complex biological systems.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Microscopy
Background:
- Live cell imaging generates large, complex datasets.
- Tracking migrating cells in 3D is challenging.
- Accurate quantitative data extraction is difficult.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a protocol for accurate automated tracking of cells in 3D.
- To address challenges in analyzing large live cell imaging datasets.
- To enable precise quantitative analysis of cell migration.
Main Methods:
- Developed custom ImageJ macro scripts for automated 3D cell tracking.
- Implemented a workflow accounting for overall embryo movement.
- Included assisted review for all 3D tracks.
- Facilitated selection of specific cell subgroups within populations.
Main Results:
- Achieved accurate automated tracking of migrating cells in 3D.
- Successfully accounted for embryo movement and allowed subgroup selection.
- Provided a reliable method for precise cell tracking.
- Enabled custom track measurement additions.
Conclusions:
- The protocol offers a reliable method for precise 3D cell tracking.
- Enables detailed analysis of distinct cell subsets within populations.
- Facilitates quantitative analysis of complex live cell imaging data.
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