Subjecting cells to cytotoxic compounds may bring different results. Cells may stop growing and dividing actively, lose cell membrane integrity and suffer instantaneous death (necrosis) or initiate a series of events that will lead to programmed cell death (apoptosis). To better understand the effects of toxic compounds on living cells and to measure the level by which they begin to exhibit their harmful effects on biological systems, researchers and pharmaceutical laboratories use cytotoxicity assays to learn what they need to know.
In general, there are three distinct types of cytotoxicity assays. There are assays that determine cell viability by:
- Exhibiting a change in the membrane permeability or metabolism (viability assays);
- Measuring their absolute long term survival rate and their capacity to regenerate (long term survival assays);
- Exhibiting survival in an altered or genetically mutated state (irritancy assays).
By using a silicon microphysiometer, reduction in the extracellular acidification rate as a result of any changes in the intracellular metabolism can be detected.
Since each of these approaches has its own advantages and disadvantages, it is highly recommended that you use a variety of cytotoxicity assays to accurately determine cell viability.
