Cell cycle analysis using bromodeoxyuridine: comparison of methods for analysis of total cell transit time.

Results are presented supporting the study of cellular proliferation utilizing 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation followed by sister chromatid differential staining. In order to determine the relative accuracy of this method in estimating total cell transit time (TC), we utilized a thermosensitive rat embryonic cell line to compare measurement of TC based on the percent differentially labeled (PDLM) technique, with cell cycle measurements using [3H]-thymidine [( 3H]-TdR) incorporation and the percent labeled mitoses (PLM) technique. Results of PLM and PDLM analysis were shown to be highly concordant, indicating the utility of the BrdU method for analysis of Tc. Results are presented suggesting the general application of the PDLM method for estimations of TC in cultures of human tumors.