Fisher Biosciences unit, Cellomics, introduces Neuronal Profiling BioApplication; New software provides real-time analysis of nerve cell images.

Cellomics, the world leader in and creator of High Content Screening (HCS) and a unit of Fisher Biosciences, has introduced new image-analysis software for neurobiology that provides real-time measurements for neuronal morphology and neurite outgrowth in vitro..

The fully integrated software, working with Cellomics' ArrayScan® or KineticScan®HCS Readers automatically extracts all necessary information on visualized neurons and neurites as well as non-neuronal cells. The software is managed through Cellomics' High Content Information (HCi™) software,

"Cellomics' Neuronal Profiling BioApplication is unique because it analyzes images on the fly, providing immediate results," said Ron Lowy, president and chief executive officer of Fisher Biosciences. "It is a valuable time-saving tool for our customers who want to conduct neurobiology studies using HCS."

Cellomics' neuronal profiling technology assists in analyzing neurite growth or neuronal differentiation. This new application will serve researchers in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies developing and testing potential drugs for neurological diseases, toxicity, and spinal cord injuries; academic researchers studying neuronal diseases and processes; and environmental scientists conducting product-safety testing.

With the Neuronal Profiling BioApplication, a researcher can easily retrieve information on cell population, along with many other details, in a fraction of the time used in conventional methods. The new technology eliminates the need to manually count neurites.

"The new Neuronal Profiling BioApplication gives us more parameters for quantifying neuronal outgrowth," said Michael Bova, principal scientist and team leader at Elan Pharmaceuticals. Bova and his team are using the Cellomics tool in studying both primary and neuronal cultures and SH-SY5Y cells to discover how compounds alter or modify neuronal outgrowth. "The cell and nuclear segmentation features enable us to quantify neuronal outgrowth with more precision, flexibility and confidence."