AGS

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I maintain the morphology of AGS cells?

  Maintaining the morphology of AGS cells involves several key steps to ensure they remain healthy and retain their characteristic appearance. Here’s how you can achieve this, along with methods to assess their health, viability, and perform morphological observations:

  Maintaining Morphology of AGS Cells:
  Culture Conditions: Maintain AGS cells in a suitable culture medium, typically DMEM (Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) and antibiotics (e.g., penicillin-streptomycin).

  Subculture Regularly: Passage AGS cells when they reach about 70-80% confluence to prevent overgrowth, which can lead to changes in morphology. Follow recommended splitting ratios to avoid cell stress.

  Monitor pH and Osmolarity: Ensure the pH of the medium is within the appropriate range (usually 7.2-7.4) and osmolarity is maintained, as fluctuations can affect cell morphology.

  Avoid Over-Confluence: Cells should not be allowed to grow to full confluence where they become overly crowded, leading to differentiation or altered morphology.

• How do I assess the health and viability of AGS cells?

  Assessing Health and Viability of AGS Cells:
  Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay: Mix AGS cells with Trypan Blue dye and count viable (unstained) versus non-viable (stained) cells under a microscope.

  Cell Counting: Use automated cell counters or hemocytometers to count cells and assess changes in population density over time.

  Metabolic Activity Assays: Perform assays such as MTT or MTS assays to measure mitochondrial activity, which correlates with cell viability.

  Morphological Changes: Monitor cell morphology under a microscope regularly; healthy AGS cells typically appear epithelial with a polygonal shape and adherent.

• How do I perform morphological observation of cells?

  Performing Morphological Observation of Cells:
  Microscopy: Use an inverted phase-contrast microscope or an upright microscope with appropriate magnification (e.g., 10x to 40x objectives) to observe AGS cells.

  Fixation and Staining: Fix cells with paraformaldehyde or methanol and stain with dyes like Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) for structural observation or fluorescent dyes for specific cellular components.

  Live Cell Imaging: Use live-cell imaging techniques to observe dynamic changes in cell morphology and behavior over time without fixation.

  Documentation: Record images or videos of AGS cells at different time points to track changes in morphology or response to treatments.