Cell viability assessment

• In addition to multi-parametric cytotoxicity assessment using high content screening, Cyprotex offer general cell viability assessment using single endpoints such as LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), neutral red or MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide).
• LDH is a stable enzyme, present in all cell types, and is rapidly released into the cell culture medium upon damage of the plasma membrane. Neutral red measures the ability of viable cells to incorporate and bind the neutral red dye in the lysosomes. MTT is a yellow, water-soluble tetrazolium dye that is converted by mitochondrial dehydrogenases in viable cells to a water-insoluble, purple formazan.
• LDH, neutral red and MTT are well established, sensitive and reliable endpoints of cytotoxicity.
• Cyprotex offer assessment of LDH, neutral red or MTT in HepG2, NIH3T3, HaCaT cells or primary hepatocytes.

The accurate assessment of cytotoxicity is important for evaluating the potential of a test agent to induce pathologies that result from cell killing and to determine appropriate doses for other endpoints, such as genetic toxicology studies.

Putnam KP, Bombick DW and Doolittle DJ. (2002) Toxicology In Vitro 16(5); 599-607