Worthington Tissue Dissociation Guide

Optimization Techniques: General Guidelines

Although optimization of a cell isolation procedure for a particular cell type is dependent upon the adequate recovery of cells having various required characteristics, some guidelines can be established. The information in this guide regarding cell isolation and the enzymes used, when combined with logic and suitable experimental design, should lead to the development of a satisfactory cell isolation method. (See Freshney 1987 for a detailed discussion.)

Cell Visibility / Cell Yield Relationship illustration

The complex relationship between cell yield and viability can be represented by the simplified illustrations shown on the left. In general there is an area of optimized recovery balanced between yield and viability; working near the middle of this range will reduce variability in the results of the cell isolation procedure. Understanding this relationship and how it can vary with a particular cell type and application, can make the optimization process easier.

Working Range Graph

For troubleshooting purposes various possible results, along with suggested corrective actions are listed below. Keep in mind that there are no clear lines between the quadrants but rather converging zones with variable areas of overlap.

Low yield/Low Viability Over/under dissociation, cellular damage. Change to less digestive type enzyme and/or decrease working concentration. (e.g. from trypsin to collagenase/ from Type 2 collagenase to Type 1).
Low Yield/High Viability Under dissociation. Increase enzyme concentration and/or incubation time and monitor both yield and viability response.
 
If yield remains poor, evaluate a more digestive type enzyme and/or the addition of secondary enzyme(s).
High Yield/Low Viability Good dissociation, cellular damage. Enzyme overly digestive and/or at too high a working concentration. Reduce concentration and/or incubation time and monitor yield and viability response.
 
Try diluting the proteolytic action by adding bovine serum albumin (BSA) (0.1 - 0.5% w/v) or soybean trypsin inhibitor (0.01 - 0.1% w/v) to the dissociation.
 
Try using less proteolytic enzyme although yield may be affected and should be monitored.
High Yield/High Viability The place to be. Consider evaluating the effect of dissociation parameters to learn their limitations for future reference.

A scale showing the relative digestive power of the enzymes commonly used follows for reference. Refer to this scale when troubleshooting a dissociation and planning isolation strategy.

Enzyme Digestion Scale

Next: Optimization Strategy

Tissue Tables (references, grouped by tissue type and species)

Adipose/Fat Adrenal Bone Brain
Cartilage Colon Endothelial Epithelial
Eye Heart Intestine Kidney
Liver Lung Lymph nodes Mammary
Miscellaneous Muscle Neural Pancreas
Parotid Pituitary Prostate Reproductive
Scales Skin Spleen Stem
Thymus Thyroid/Parathyroid Tonsil Tumor

Note: We have not limited the references listed to only those papers using Worthington enzymes. Generally speaking, the tissue dissociation enzymes offered by Worthington can be used interchangeably for most preparations cited.