Effects of trypsin treatment on tissue in culture

The influence of controlled damage on the growth and the energy metabolism of tissue in culture was studied. In the preparation of monolayers of chick mesenchyma tissue the time of treatment with trypsin was varied. Thereafter, the cells in the roller tubes were counted at time intervals. At first, fewer cells were found in the tubes where trypsin treatment had been more prolonged, but after 5 days all cell counts were similar. The production of CO 2 and lactic acid from radioactive glucose were also measured in the time interval from the third to the fifth day after treatment with trypsin. Depressed respiration and increased fermentation were found. It is suggested that the damage to respiration is, in part, compensated by an increase in fermentation.