Primary cell culture: Primary culture refers to taking tissues or cells out of the body for the first time, also known as primary culture.

Subculture: Subculture refers to the process that the culture needs to be divided into small parts, re-inoculated into another culture container (bottle) and then cultured. For monolayer culture, 80% confluent or newly confluent cells are the ideal passage stage.

Difference 2: Different characteristics.

Primary cell culture: it is similar to the original tissue in vivo in morphological structure and functional activities. Because the cultured cells have just been separated from living tissues, they are closer to the living conditions in organisms. This method can provide graduate students with a powerful means of cell growth, metabolism and reproduction. At the same time, it also creates conditions for future generations.

Subculture cell culture: When the primary culture is successful, with the extension of culture time and the continuous division of cells, one cell contacts with another cell and contact inhibition occurs, and the growth rate slows down or even stops; On the other hand, it is not conducive to growth or poisoning due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of metabolites.

Difference 3: The survival rate is different.

Primary cell culture: the process is relatively complicated and the culture conditions are demanding.

Passage cell culture: it is easy to survive under general culture conditions, and passage cells are easy to proliferate.

Difference 4: The principle is different.

Primary cell culture: various tissues of animals are taken out of the body, treated with various enzymes (commonly used trypsin), chelating agents (commonly used EDTA) or mechanical methods, dispersed into single cells, and cultured in a suitable medium to make the cells survive, grow and reproduce. This process is called primary culture.

Cell subculture: When cells are filled in culture bottles, they need to be diluted and inoculated into multiple bottles before cells can continue to grow. This process is called passing. A large number of cells can be obtained by subculture for experiments. Passage should be carried out under strict aseptic conditions, and each step requires meticulous aseptic operation.

Reference 1: Baidu Encyclopedia Entry-Primary Culture

Reference 2: Baidu Encyclopedia Entry-Subculture