Collagenase. Its effectiveness as a dispersing agent for embryonic chick thyroid and heart

Summary The effectiveness of tetraphenylboron, pronase and collagenase was tested on embryonic chick thyroid and heart. The relative dispersing efficiency was judged by number of cells released and their viability in monolayer culture. Tetraphenylboron was not effective because it killed the cells. Pronase and collagenase both released large numbers of cells but collagenase treatment resulted in greater survival. Tests of proteolytic activity of collagenase as a means of explaining the results revealed that all commercial preparations contain some activity under the conditions used for dissociation.