In culture OK cells and other established epithelial lines generally experience considerable contact inhibition of migration. When two or more of the cells collide, the membrane ruffling along their shared margins generally ceases and the cells appear to stick together. Sometimes continued lamellipodial ruffling along the free edges of the cells enables them to release their adhesions with one another as they commence independent migration in different directions. Frequently, however, the epithelial cells remain connected to one another, forming small colonies in the culture dish.

Cells of the same basic type do not always behave in an identical manner. Compared to Madin-Darby ovine kidney epithelial cells, for instance, OK epithelial cells are extremely active. Such a distinct difference can occur for a variety of reasons. Notably, cells grown on variously adhesive substances locomote at different speeds. Similarly, different cell lines can demonstrate dissimilar affinities for the same substance, causing them to migrate in discrete ways. Migration is most rapid when adhesion between a cell and a surface is at a medium level, rather than very strong or very weak.

Cytoplasmic fragments are occasionally left behind by migrating cells. Many of the small sections of material can be observed during the digital video, especially in the bottom right-hand corner of the field of view approximately halfway through the sequence. Oftentimes the fragments represent former points of adhesion between a cell and the substratum that were not able to be released by the cell. Cell debris is not usually wasted by cultured cells, however. As demonstrated by the OK cells, cytoplasmic fragments are actively swept up by the ruffling lamellipodia of cells traveling through the area, which incorporate the material into their own cellular contents.