An electrode check was run to check the impedance value of the cell-free wells containing just fresh Ipatasertib concentration medium and to assess the integrity of the arrays. The arrays were

seeded at a density of 40,000 cells in 400 μl of Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s medium with 15 Mm Hepes, L-Glutamine to achieve confluent monolayers following treatment with motility-related inhibitors. After 24 hours in culture, the confluence and viability of the cell monolayer was confirmed by a light microscope, thus another electrode check was run to check the impedance value of the array to ensure correct position of the contacts [27]. The monolayer of MDA-MB-231 cells was electrically wounded with a 5 V AC at 4,000 Hz for 30 seconds. Impedance and resistance of the cell layer were immediately recorded every millisecond for a period of up to 5 hours. Immunohistochemistry Cryostat sections of frozen tissue were cut at 6 μm, placed on Super Frost Plus slides (LSL UK, Rochdale, UK), air dried and fixed in a 50:50 solution of alcohol:acetone. selleck kinase inhibitor The sections were then air dried again and stored at -20°C until used. Immediately before commencement of immuno-staining, the sections were washed in https://www.selleckchem.com/products/necrostatin-1.html buffer for 5 min and treated with horse serum for 20 min as a blocking agent to non-specific binding. Sections

were stained using Claudin-5 antibodies (Santa-Cruz Biotechnologies Inc., Santa Cruz, USA). Negative controls were used where necessary. Primary antibodies were used at 1:100 dilution for 60 min and then washed in buffer. The secondary biotinylated antibody at 1:100 dilution (Universal secondary, Vectastain Elite ABC, Vector Laboratories Inc., Burlingham, CA, USA) was added (in horse

serum/buffer solution) for 30 min, followed by numerous washings. Avidin/Biotin complex was added for 30 min, again followed with washes. Diaminobenzadine was used as a chromogen to visualize the antibody/antigen complex. Sections were counterstained in Mayer’s haematoxylin for 1 min, dehydrated, cleared and mounted in DPX. In vivo development of mammary tumour Athymic nude mice (nu/nu) were purchased from Charles River Laboratories (Charles River Laboratories, Thiamet G Kent, UK) and maintained in filter top units according to Home office regulation. Each group of mice consisted of 5 mice and each mouse was injected with a mix of 2×106 cancer cells in 100 μl of sterile BSS containing 0.5 mg/ml Matrigel suspension in both flanks. Two groups were included: MDA-MB-231pEF6 control transfected cells, and MDA-MB-231CL5exp displaying enhanced Claudin-5 expression. The mice were weighted and the size of the growing tumour measured using vernier callipers under sterile conditions every week. Those mice that developed tumours exceeding 1 cm3 or suffered 25% weight loss during the experiment were terminated under Schedule 1 according to the UK Home Office and the UK Coordinating Committee on Cancer Research (UKCCCR) instructions.