MTT Cell Proliferation Assay Kit

Description

Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), also known as thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide, is a yellow dye that has been widely used as a replacement for traditional trypan blue staining and radioisotope-based assays to monitor cell viability, proliferation, and cytotoxicity. MTT is a positively charged, cell-permeable tetrazolium compound that is reduced by mitochondrial enzymes in living cells. Succinate dehydrogenase in the mitochondria of living cells reduces exogenously introduced MTT to water-insoluble, dark blue MTT-formazan crystals, while dead cells do not. Formazan crystals accumulate inside viable cells. Formazan crystals can be solubilized with DMSO or acidified isopropanol, and the absorbance at 570 nm measured on a microplate reader reflects the amount of formazan produced. The amount of formazan produced is proportional to the number of viable cells, allowing for the assessment of cell viability.