Mechanical Dissociation
Mechanical Dissociation - Related Videos
05:26
Mechanical Dissociation: A Method to Obtain Viable Cells from a Tissue
0 Views •
2023
This video describes the non-enzymatic dissociation of fresh human tissue to obtain viable cells. The technique is used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of CD45 positive cells (lymphocytes/leukocytes) present in various normal and malignant human tissues.
06:56
Isolation of Macrophages from Mouse Dorsal Root Ganglion Using Mechanical Dissociation
0 Views •
2025
This video demonstrates an enzyme-free protocol to isolate macrophages from mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) using a mechanical dissociation technique. Upon homogenization of the freshly collected DRG tissue, antibodies against the cell-surface receptors on the macrophages are used to label the cells fluorescently, followed by performing flow cytometry to confirm the presence of macrophages in the sample.
07:14
Combined Mechanical and Enzymatic Dissociation of Mouse Brain Hippocampal Tissue
0 Views •
Cited by 3 •
2021
This neural cell dissociation protocol is intended for samples with a low amount of starting material and yields a highly viable single-cell suspension for downstream analysis, with optional fixation and staining steps.
05:06
Mechanical Dissociation of Tissues for Single Cell Analysis Using a Motorized Device
0 Views •
Cited by 3 •
2023
A general protocol for the combined enzymatic and semi-automated mechanical dissociation of tissues to generate single-cell suspensions for downstream analyses, such as flow cytometry, is provided. Instructions for the fabrication, assembly, and operation of the low-cost mechanical device developed for this protocol are included.
08:46
A Standardized Approach for Multispecies Purification of Mammalian Male Germ Cells by Mechanical Tissue Dissociation and Flow Cytometry
0 Views •
Cited by 10 •
2017
This work describes the standardization of a method to obtain purified germ cell populations from testicular tissue of different mammalian species. It is a straightforward protocol that combines mechanical testis dissociation, staining with Hoechst-33342 and propidium iodide, and FACS sorting, with wide applications in comparative studies of male reproductive biology.
FAQs
These actions apply shear and compression that disrupt cell-to-cell connections and extracellular structures. Cutting and mincing reduce tissue into smaller fragments, while grinding or trituration further breaks those fragments apart. The physical treatment releases cellular material without introducing digestive enzymes, making the resulting suspension suitable for subsequent separation and analysis.
Because the method does not rely on proteolytic digestive enzymes, cells experience less exposure to reagents that can alter surface proteins. This may help retain surface features needed for identification or measurement. The advantage is especially relevant when isolated cells will undergo flow cytometry or other analyses that depend on accessible cellular markers.
The amount of physical force must be balanced against the need to break apart tissue. Insufficient force can leave aggregates or incompletely separated structures, whereas excessive force may damage cells and reduce viability. Consequently, the condition of the suspension reflects both how effectively connections were disrupted and how carefully mechanical stress was controlled.
After physical disruption, the material is commonly processed to remove larger fragments and concentrate the released cells. Filtration can separate the suspension from remaining tissue pieces, while centrifugation can help collect cellular material. These steps produce a more usable cell suspension for culture, flow cytometry, or downstream molecular analyses.
A workflow may use tools or devices suited to cutting, mincing, grinding, trituration, or passage through a mesh. The selected action depends on how the tissue must be broken down and how much disruption the cells can tolerate. Filtration and centrifugation may follow to refine the preparation and recover the cellular fraction.
The technique supports primary cell isolation and tissue culture by converting biological material into a cell suspension without digestive enzymes. It also prepares samples for flow cytometry and downstream molecular analyses. Its speed and reduced exposure to proteolytic reagents can be valuable when researchers need cellular material with preserved surface proteins, provided excessive force is avoided.