Methodology for Detection of Heterogeneity of Cell Locomotory Phenotypes in Three-Dimensional Gels

Abstract
A computer-driven, three-dimensional, optical, cell-tracking system was used to quantifiy the locomotory phenotypes of Mos-11 cells in a collagen gel. Factor analysis was used as a statistical means to make the complex variables generated by the system more tractable to analysis. Heterogeneity in locomotory behavior (two independent locomotory phenotypes) was detected among a sample of 54 cells.