Pretreatment with enzymes on explant outgrowth in vitro

Abstract

Observations have been made on the initiation of cellular (fibroblastic) outgrowth from adult and embryonic fowl tissue after treatment of the explants with crude trypsin (Difco 1:250), crystalline trypsin, collagenase, elastase and testicular hyaluronidase. Treatment of adult fowl aortic tissue with crude trypsin, collagenase and elastase resulted in the earlier initiation of cellular emigration, i.e. a reduction in the latent period of emigration. Crystalline trypsin and hyaluronidase did not affect the onset of explant outgrowth. Pretreatment with tryptic enzymes of embryonic skeletal muscle explants, taken from chick donors of 14 to 21 days of incubation, delayed the onset of cellular outgrowth. Collagenase had no significant effect. The interpretation of these findings and their significance in relation to the factors controlling cell movement are discussed.