Mammalian Cell Culture Types and Guidelines of Their Maintenance

Abstract

Mammalian cell culture can be classified into three types, namely, primary, secondary, and continuous cultures. The maintenance and growth of cells isolated directly from the parental mammalian tissues/organs in cultures comprise the primary cell cultures. When the primary cultured cells are further subcultured (propagated) or passaged in new culture vessels, it is called secondary culture. Since secondary cultured cells are derived from the primary cultured cells, they are also called extensions or continuations of primary culture. The normal mammalian cells have a finite ability to undergo divisions in physiological conditions, and that is why these cells are mortal. So, primary and secondary cultured cells originate from the normal mortal cells having a capacity of limited divisions. However, in certain pathophysiological conditions such as cancer, few cells can be originated within a mammalian body with a capacity to divide uninterruptedly or continuously as long as they are supplied with proper nutrition and an ideal growth environment. Because of the continuous or infinite division capacity, this type of cell culture is also called continuous cell culture. Additionally, mammalian cells possess a slightly negative charge on their plasma membrane and require adherence with the cultured vessels for their growth or proliferation. While most mammalian cells are adherent in nature, some blood cells (e.g., B/T lymphocytes) are nonadherent. This chapter narrates primary, secondary, and continuous cell culture, as well as adherent and nonadherent cell culture procedures.