How to Measure Area Closure Using the Oris™ Pro Cell Migration Assay

Cell migration is an integrated process that is critical during many physiological events, including embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and the inflammatory response. The Oris™ Pro Cell Migration Assay utilizes a 96-well plate that contains a non-toxic, dissolving biocompatible gel (BCG) that excludes cells from attaching to the centers of the well. After cells have adhered and the BCG dissolves, a cell-free zone (Detection Zone) is revealed into which cells can migrate. While there are many assay formats to study cell migration, analysis of the results can be subjective and time consuming. This application note describes the use of ImageJ software, a freeware image analysis program developed at the National Institutes of Health to automatically measure the area of the Detection Zone from phase-contrast and fluorescence images and to calculate area closure in the Oris™ Pro Cell Migration Assay.