Plasma choice for clotting in culture — why is adult chicken plasma preferred over mammalian plasma in some tissue culture setups?

Introduction / Context:
Historically, plasma clots were used as a substrate for explant and primary cell culture. The clarity and firmness of the clot influence observation, nutrient diffusion, and handling.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Adult chicken plasma is compared with mammalian plasma.
• Desired features: clarity and firm clot formation even when diluted by medium.
• Use case: supporting adherent explants while allowing microscopy.

Concept / Approach:

Adult chicken plasma reliably forms a clear, firm coagulum when mixed with culture medium and coagulated (e.g., with thrombin or via clotting cascade). This property makes it advantageous for preparing stable plasma clots as supportive matrices that remain transparent for microscopic examination.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Classical tissue culture protocols (pre-synthetic matrices) cite chicken plasma for consistent clear clotting, facilitating cell attachment and observation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Opacity is not desirable; “no clots” or “semi-solid only” contradict use as a structural matrix; trypsin inactivation is not the key differentiator in this context.

Common Pitfalls:

Assuming all plasmas behave the same upon dilution with medium; not considering microscopy needs.

Final Answer:

It forms a clear, solid coagulum even after dilution with medium