Cell Synchrony Techniques: A Comparison of Methods

With the development of the technique of autoradiography by Howard and Pelc (16 ), the mammalian cell cycle has become a topic of considerable interest and study. To facilitate this effort, investigators have directed their attention to the development of techniques for use in obtaining cell populations enriched in selected phases of the cell cycle. The technique of mitotic selection (35 ) described by Terasima and Tolmach in 1961 is one such approach that has enjoyed widespread use and success. By taking advantage of the property of cells from certain cell lines to detach from the surface of culture vessels during mitosis, cell populations enriched in the mitotic phase could be collected through a gentle shaking process. These cells then progress through the cell cycle in a synchronous manner. The major limitation of this procedure, however, is that it is applicable only to selected cell lines that grow in vitro.