Morphological changes in living cell cultures following α-particle irradiation studied by optical and atomic force microscopy

Abstract

The shape of the cells and the released material (traces) from migrating adherent cells depends on the cell type, the surface coating of the culture plate, the extracellular matrix, and some other parameters. In our studies we investigated the effect of α-exposure (7– 28 particle/ cell/ h ) on cell cultures. C6 glioma cells and 3T3 cell-lines were grown on a 20 μm thick, chemically modified polypropylene foil and exposed to α-particles of an 241 Am (37 kBq) source through the foil. The average energy of the α particles was calculated by Monte-Carlo simulation of the whole collision cascade through the given pathway in air and in the foil. The α-dose was measured by CR-39 track detectors. Morphological changes of the cells were investigated by phase-contrast optical microscopy and by atomic force microscopy in low force contact mode. The static traces give information about the dynamics of cell migration and about the quality of the extracellular matrix.