Cell culture

Cell culture in essence is the removal of cells from their normal physiological in vivo environment and sustaining viability or promoting proliferation. The On-line Medical Dictionary defines cell culture as a general term referring to the maintenance of cell strains or lines in the laboratory.Cell culture - a general term referring to the maintenance of cell strains or lines in the laboratory:On-line Medical Dictionary

Why Cell Culture

Cell culture enables many studies that would otherwise be impossible because of crucial advantages that cell culture brings. These are:
- Ability to control the microenvironment surrounding the cells, in many terms, including pH, temperature, partial gas tensions, etc., which are hard or impossible to control in a localised and precise fashion in vivo.
- Ability to monitor various physiological elements, many in common with those one can control. These are measurable in an isolated way, free from interference from other biological molecules present in an in vivo situation.
- More homogeneous cell populations mean that the cells have similar needs, and can be optimised for growth much more effectively.
- Use of animal models is reduced.

Why not Cell Culture

- Cells do not naturally reside in culture conditions, as much as one tries to simulate such conditions. This can cause dedifferentation and changes in cell metabolism, possibly making the study invalid.
- The supporting structures are lost, especially those involved with distal secretion of various chemical agents which are normally part of the cell maintenance functions within the body.