Cell size dynamics and viability of cells exposed to hypotonic treatment and electroporation for electrofusion optimization

Abstract

Cell size dynamics and viability of cells exposed to hypotonic treatment and electroporation for electrofusion optimizationBackground. Various electrofusion parameters have to be adjusted to obtain the optimal electrofusion efficiency. Based on published data, good electrofusion conditions can be achieved with the hypotonic treatment. However, the duration of the hypotonic treatment before electroporation and buffer hypoosmolarity have to be adjusted in order to cause cell swelling, to avoid regulatory volume decrease and to preserve cell viability. The aims of our study were to determine cell size dynamics and viability of four different cell lines in hypotonic buffer and to study the influence of the electroporation on the selected cell line in hypotonic buffer.Materials and methods. Cell size dynamics of different cell lines exposed to hypotonic buffer and electroporation were analyzed by time-resolved cell size measurements. The viability of hypotonically treated or/and electroporated cells was determined 24 h after the experiment by a modified crystal violet (CV) viability assay.Results. In our experimental conditions the hypotonic treatment at 100 mOsm was efficient for CHO, V79 and B16-F1 cell lines. The optimal duration of the treatment was between two and five minutes. On the other hand the same hypotonic treatment did not cause cell