DNA image cytometry. An alternative method in osteoblast proliferation assays.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether DNA image cytometry can be used as an alternative method to tritiated thymidine uptake quantification in osteoblast proliferation assays. STUD DESIGN: Proliferation of normal human osteoblasts incubated with normal human serum at 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 40% was quantified by tritiated thymidine uptake quantification and DNA image cytometry.


RESULTS
Tritiated thymidine uptake quantification showed that normal human serum stimulated the proliferation of normal human osteoblasts and that the degree of stimulation was directly related to the concentration of serum in the culture medium. Similar results were obtained when the DNA image cytometry assay was used. A highly significant linear relationship between the ranks of both methods was found (Spearman's r = 1.00, P = .0253).


CONCLUSIONS
DNA image cytometry may be a valuable alternative when the use of radioactive material is not desired and/or subsequent morphologic or immunocytochemical characterization of cells under study is required.
Nacher
M
M
Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, Barcelona, Spain.
Serrano
S
S
Mariñoso
M L
ML
Lloreta
J
J
Aguilar
L
L
Lerma
E
E
Díez
A
A
Aubia
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D015675:Osteocalcin; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D013936:Thymidine