Organ culture model for the study of HVH-II infections in carcinoma of the cervix.

An experimental model is described whereby human and monkey cervical tissues may be maintained as organ cultures for 21 and 40 days, respectively. Inclusion of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in the culture medium prolongs the survival time of tissues considerably. The sequential cytologic changes associated with herpesvirus hominis type II (HVH-II) infection are reported. These changes are considered in relation to the possible causal role of HVH-II infection in cervical carcinogenesis.