Isolation and Primary Culture of Various Mammalian Cells

Isolation and primary culture of four major mammalian cells comprise the major contents of this chapter. The cells described here are endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells. While endothelial cells are present only in the various micro- and macrovascular beds, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts are present both in the vascular and nonvascular regions of a mammalian body. However, epithelial cells are present in the epithelium, located exclusively in the nonvascular regions. The epithelium is the thin tissue layer or multiple layers of epithelial cells, forming the inner or outer surface of organs, glands, mouth, nostrils, trachea, alveoli, ducts lumen of mammary glands, the lining of the alimentary canal, and urinary bladder. This chapter focuses on the following basic aspects of the isolation and culture of these mammalian cells: (1) the basic concept of these cells; (2) locations of the body at which these cells are present; (3) various instruments and materials are needed to isolate these cells; (4) various isolation and culture procedures of these cells; (5) phenotypic and protein maker-based identification of these cells; and finally, (6) utility to culture prospects of these cells.