Manual measurement and manipulation of the cell surface requires access to the cells, usually in an open chamber. Temperature-controlled chambers or stage inserts are preferred for maintaining physiological activity during the experiment. For example, heated culture dishes with coverslip glass bottoms (Bioptechs) permit high-resolution fluorescence microscopy of living cells during force application. - [Read Chambers for Examination of Live Cells under Mechanical Stress Protocol]
ES Cell Culture and Manipulation- http://web.archive.org/web/20040301061220/http://dicty.cmb.nwu.edu/Chis_lab/Lab+Manual/es_cell_culture_and_manipulation.htm
Very detailed protocol. ES Cell Culture and Manipulation. Chisholm Lab, Northwestern University Medical School. - [Read ES Cell Culture and Manipulation]
Protocol describes an assay that relies on the endothelial cells’ ability to form distinct blood-vessel-like tubules in an extracellular matrix where they can subsequently be visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Although quantification of the tubules can be performed by manual tracing, this method precludes the use of the assay in unbiased high-throughput applications. - [Read Image Based Assay of Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Protocol]
Laboratory Safety Manual. McGill EHS. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Control of Chemical Hazards, Handling and Storage of Laboratory Chemicals, Fire Safety in the Laboratory, Hazardous Waste Disposal. - [Read Laboratory Safety Manual]
There are several manual methods that can be used to perform tissue microdissection. Techniques using hand-held tools as well as mechanical micromanipulator-based approaches have been described. However, speed and precision are the most important parameters and any method that achieves these is adequate. Investigators should also expect to invest time initially by practicing on 10 to 20 cases to begin to feel comfortable with the technique. - [Read Manual Microdissection]