contact inhibition The cessation in vitro of both movement and replication in a cell on making contact with other cells, such that a confluent monolayer is formed in the culture. Probably it occurs as a result of the formation of cytoplasmic (see CYTOPLASM) bridges between cells.

contact inhibition The cessation in vitro of both movement and replication in a cell on making contact with other cells, such that a confluent monolayer is formed in the culture. Probably it occurs as a result of the formation of cytoplasmic bridges between cells. In many cancer cells this inhibition is absent.