Measurement of macrophage growth and differentiation

This unit provides protocols for measuring the abundance and growth of macrophage precursors in agar cultures and the proliferation of isolated mature macrophages in vitro, by either direct cell counting or by DNA measurement. Methods for the immunohistochemical identification of macrophages and the determination of their proliferative status in vivo by immunofluorescence are also included. It also describes methods for characterization of macrophage differentiation through the immunofluorescence analysis of cell surface expression of CSF-1 receptor.