Time-based changes in fibroblast three-dimensional locomotory characteristics and phenotypes.

Three-dimensional locomotory trajectories have been determined for an embryonic fibroblast population and also for these cells after a 20-day period in tissue culture (C-20 cells). Differences in locomotory characteristics between these two cell populations are reported. Applying factor analysis to the distribution of angle changes between vectors in a cell's trajectory reveals the possibility that different locomotory phenotypes exist. Of the three phenotypes detected in the embryonic population only one continues in the C-20 population while a new phenotype appears in the latter. These results document changes in locomotory characteristics and phenotypes in an embryonic population with time.