Devices and methods for the measurement of cellular biochemical processes

A method of studying a cellular process, by the use of a multiwell plate comprising an array of wells held in fixed relationship to one another wherein each well is a vessel having an axis, an open top, opaque side walls and base, wherein the base includes a region and there is provided or on an interior surface of the region a layer comprising a scintillant substance and which permits the attachment or growth of cells, and wherein the region of the base and the layer comprising a scintillant substance are both optically transparent, and of detection means for observing scintillation of the scintillant substance, which method comprises providing cells adhering to the layer in the presence of a fluid medium, introducing into the fluid medium a reagent labelled with a radioisotope emitting electrons with a mean range up to 2000 .mu.m in aqueous media, under conditions to cause a portion of the labelled reagent to become associated with or released from the cells adhering to the layer, and using the detection means to observe scintillation caused by radioactive decay so as to study the cellular process.

A method of studying a cellular process, by the use of a multiwell plate comprising an array of wells held in fixed relationship to one another wherein each well is a vessel having an axis, an open top, opaque side walls and a base, wherein the base includes a region and there is provided in or on an interior surface of the region a layer comprising a scintillant substance and which permits the attachment or growth of cells, and wherein the region of the base and the layer comprising a scintillant substance are both optically transparent, and of detection means for observing scintillation of the scintillant substance, which method comprises introducing into the vessel a fluid suspension of cells labelled with a radioisotope emitting electrons with a mean range of up to 2000 .mu.m in aqueous media, under conditions to cause a portion of the labelled cells to become associated with the layer, or in close proximity to the layer, and using the detection means to observe scintillation caused by radioactive decay so as to study the cellular process.