Trypsinization frequency and loss of proliferative capacity in WI-38 cells

The effect of the trypsinization procedure employed in routine serial subcultivation on the proliferative life span of WI-38 cells was studied by varying the frequency of trypsinization and by using a nonenzymatic subcultivation technique. The results indicate that recurrent trypsinization does not contribute to loss of proliferative capacity and may, in fact, delay this loss to some degree.