The quantitation of cultured cellular surface coverage: applications for transparent and opaque surfaces

A planimetric technique is described for the analysis of cellular linings cultured on vascular prostheses and tissue culture plates. The method is not destructive of the cells and uses a calibrated eyepiece grid and an inverted microscope. The technique allows a rapid assessment of the percent of the prosthetic surface covered by cells, the average size of the cellular islands, and their distribution. In addition, the cells may be counted, their average surface area computed, and growth curves constructed for cells grown on tissue culture plates without the need for multiple concurrent cultures. Different cell types may be counted on the same surface. The method is more accurate than methods that require the resuspension of cells for counting, and it saves time and cells.