The culture of primary cells in vitro has enabled to gain knowledge in the field of cell biology, disease mechanisms and to offer great potential in drug testing. To date, two main techniques of isolating and culturing oral mucosal cells, the direct explant method and the enzymatic method, dominate the literature and practice. In the present study, both techniques are discussed in detail, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches in setting up a primary culture of oral mucosal cell. The direct explant technique is well-established and has been commonly used for the past 20-30 years. Although the method of setting up the cultures did not show much variations in the methodology described by authors, the culturing conditions varied according to the aims of the projects.

Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology Faculty for Dentistry Oral and Craniofacial Sciences King's College University of London London United Kingdom

Department of Anatomy Poznan University of Medical Science Poznań Poland

Department of Anatomy Poznan University of Medical Science Poznań Poland Department of Biomaterials and Experimental Dentistry Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznań Poland

Department of Anatomy Poznan University of Medical Science Poznań Poland Department of Histology and Embryology Poznan University of Medical Science Poznań Poland Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital and Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Dental Prosthetics Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin Szczecin Poland

Department of Histology and Embryology Poznan University of Medical Science Poznań Poland

IDepartment of Anatomy Poznan University of Medical Science Poznań Poland