Related Experiment Videos
Measurement of endothelial cell migration using an improved linear migration assay. Presented at the 1995
1Department of Surgery, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724, USA.
Objective:
The under-agarose migration assay developed for use with endothelial cells provides a measurement of the intrinsic migratory behavior of a cell population. However, the assay is labor intensive and lacks experimental flexibility. This migration assay has been refined and tested on human microvessel endothelial cells in the presence of a migration stimulus or on differing matrix-coated substrates.
Methods:
The improved assay retains the linear geometry and mathematical basis of the under-agarose assay. Cells migrating from a cell reservoir formed with a Delrin insert are counted using an automated image-analysis system utilizing a high-contrast, fluorescent nuclear stain. From the cell counts, a stochastic measure of random migration is calculated.
Results:
Values for random migration between the improved migration assay and the traditional under-agarose assay were very similar. Furthermore, a stochastic measure of endothelial cell migration on fibronectin was determined.
Conclusions:
This improved linear migration assay permits readily obtainable measures of endothelial cell migration for a number of experimental conditions. Improvements in the assay include the use of a removable fence for forming cell reservoirs, a nuclear stain to facilitate cell counting, and a more comprehensive analysis of the cell migration.