2016 Volume 54Annual Issue 28PM-Abstract Pages S425
Gradients of pH is formed in solid tumor tissues. We hypothesized that cancer cells in vivo might migrate toward intratumoral micro vessels along the pH gradient, thus promoting metastasis of tumor cells. To test this hypothesis, we devised the gap cover glass (GCG) that produces pH gradients in cultured MDA-MB-231 cells. In this study, we imaged heterogeneities of the extracellular pH under the GCG using a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye (BCECF). The pH gradient under the GCG depends on the cell density; -0.18 units/mm and -0.17 units/mm for the cell density at 3.5 x 105 cells/ml and 16 x 105 cells/ml, respectively, in L-15 culture medium. We demonstrated that the pH gradients were significantly reduced when hepes-DMEM medium was used instead of L-15. Currently, we are examining movement of the cell under these pH gradients.
