50
A . M O S C O N A , O . A . T R O W E L L A N D E . N . W I L L M E R
FIG. 4. L-strain mouse "fibroblasts" grown in chemically-defined protein-free medium.
(From Evans, Bryant, Fioramonti, McQuilkin, Sanford and Earle, 1956.)
Tissue-dissociation procedures are based on treatments which modify
intercellular attachments (cell-binding materials or cell-surface structures) so as to permit the release of discrete cells. While a variety of
agents can partially weaken the mutual adhesion of cells, complete
dispersion with a high yield of living cells is more difficult to obtain.
Most of the procedures in use involve mechanical disruption, chemical
treatment, or a combination of both.
The structural and chemical complexity and the diversity of intercellular materials and "cements" (Gersh and Catchpole, 1949;