A new rapid and non-radioactive assay for monitoring and determining the proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial cells

Korean J Ophthalmol. 2003 Jun;17(1):29-34. doi: 10.3341/kjo.2003.17.1.29.

Abstract

AlamarBlue is used to induce color and fluorescence in the microenvironment of activated cells. The alamarBlue assay was studied to determine if it could be used as a method of evaluating the number of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. A series of two-fold dilutions of RPE cells were placed into 96-well culture plates. The alamarBlue was added to the culture media after attaching the cells. The absorbance and fluorescence were measured consecutively at various intervals over a period of 24 hr. Cell viability were evaluated by means of the trypan blue exclusion method and flow cytometry using a combination of propidium iodide and annexin V was done to prove the safety of alamarBlue assay to the cells. Both the absorbance and the fluorescence had a linear relationship with the number of RPE cells. Exposing the RPE cells to alamarBlue was not detrimental to the cells. In conclusion, the alamarBlue assay constitutes a one-step, extremely simple, reproducible, economical and non-toxic procedure for evaluating the number of viable RPE cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Count
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Survival
  • Coloring Agents*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescence
  • Humans
  • Oxazines*
  • Pigment Epithelium of Eye / cytology*
  • Pigment Epithelium of Eye / physiology
  • Trypan Blue
  • Xanthenes*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Oxazines
  • Xanthenes
  • resazurin
  • Trypan Blue