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Rat prostate explants in serum‐free organ culture: A comparison of two media and gas mixtures
Author(s) -
NguyenLe Xuan Khai,
Corcos Jacques,
Brière Normand
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(19970615)32:1<43::aid-pros6>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - explant culture , prostate , organ culture , cell culture , andrology , pathology , medicine , in vitro , biology , biochemistry , cancer , genetics
BACKGROUND Urologists are looking for a way to easily discriminate between aggressive and very slow‐growing prostate tumors. A sound way to appreciate such developing activities would be to identify an appropriate cell marker in prostate explants maintained in a defined culture system. METHODS Different biological parameters were compared in rat prostate explants cultured for 5 days in rich CMRL or basic Leibovitz's L‐15 medium, unsupplemented with serum, under a mixture of either 95% air/5% CO 2 or 50% N 2 /45% O 2 /5% CO 2 . RESULTS DNA synthesis was somewhat similar with the two‐gas combination, but was higher in explants maintained in L‐15 medium than in CMRL. Hence, L‐15 medium and the 95% air/5% CO 2 mixture were selected. Under these defined conditions for 5 days, cells were still able to synthesize DNA and proteins while preserving their morphological integrity and maintaining alkaline and acid phosphatase activities. CONCLUSIONS Since the present culture system works well in a controlled environment and under such minimal conditions, it appears to be a reliable and promising model that will provide basic data and allow the study of hormones and growth factors involved in prostatic tissue growth. It might eventually permit the identification of a cell marker. Prostate 32:43–48, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.