A SIMPLE METHOD FOR THE QUANTITATIVE-EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONAL-EFFECTSOF XENOBIOTICS WITH CULTURED-CELLS

We present a simple, noninvasive, nondestructive all-purpose method fo r the quantitative evaluation of functional effects of xenobiotics wit h cultured cells and the work station for its routine, easy implementa tion. At present 1 to 150 cells growing in one to six dishes can be st udied in parallel or otherwise at time intervals ranging from 10 s to 6 h or more, over periods of time ranging from a few tens of minutes t o 3-4 days. Any aspect of cell physiological behavior can be studied ( differentiation-dedifferentiation, migration, division, degeneration, death) without preliminary staining and/or fixation provided it result s in optically visible changes.