Cell synchronization.

This chapter describes methods for analyzing the cell cycle kinetics of asynchronous mammalian cells and for preparing synchronous cultures. The described asynchronous cell methods include determination of mean generation time and proliferative fraction, determination of mitotic and [3H]thymidine-labeling indices, and estimation of cell cycle phase durations by the labeled mitoses procedure and by flow cytometry. The described synchronization methods include release from G0 arrest, release from M-phase and S-phase blocking agents, mitotic detachment, and centrifugal elutriation. Caveats in interpreting cell synchrony experiments are discussed.