Fourier analysis of light scattered by elongated scatterers

Biological stimulation of living cells is sometimes associated with morphological changes. A practical method is developed to monitor cell stimulation by means of their conformational changes through interpretation of the pattern of light scattered from a cell population. For this purpose a mathematical model is suggested that predicts the power spectrum from a population of elliptic objects with a given eccentricity. A computer simulation of that model is presented together with supporting experimental results of the simulation. The predicted and the measured spectra are in good agreement. This technique was applied to elongated cells that become circular on exposure to a human hormone, indicating the potential applicability of the method in biology and medicine. The method and the apparatus presented in this study could be applied to bioassays of cell systems that respond to a variety of stimulants and to trace quantitatively the structural changes that occur during biological processes.