Long-Term Real-Time Tracking of Morphology and Migration of Neuronal Cells under Oxidative Stress

Neuronal cells exhibit diverse morphologies that are crucial for their function within the neuronal network. Long-term quantitative analysis of both neuronal cell morphology and migration is essential in neuroscience research but remains challenging. Sodium arsenite, a known inducer of oxidative stress in neurons, affects both cell morphology and migration. To rapidly assess oxidative stress in HT22 neuronal cells, we developed a method for tracking key morphological features and migration trajectories of the individual cells. Three time-dependent parameters-velocity, circularity increment, and turn angle-are identified as rapid, direct indicators of the early stages of oxidative stress in neuronal cells. This method is then applied to investigate the effects of arsenite exposure on neuronal cells. Our approach provides a valuable tool for the rapid, label-free, and long-term real-time tracking of oxidative stress in neuronal cells, offering potential insights into cellular responses under stress conditions.