Crypt cell isolation in the small intestine of the mouse.

A successful method has been developed for isolating viable single cell suspensions of intestinal crypt cells from the small bowel of the mouse. The lumen of the intestine was perfused with a 0.2% trypsin solution that dissociated the lining epithelial cells. Crypt cell isolation, which proves to be extremely critical, occurred under optimal mechanical and chemical configurations about 75 min after the beginning of the procedure.