Stromal hypocellularity and encapsulation in organ cultures of human prostate: application in epithelial cell isolation.

The primary objective of our study was to obtain pure cultures of prostatic epithelium. The phenomena of encapsulation by epithelial cells and hypocellularity in stroma occurred when explants of human prostatic tissue were maintained in suspension cultures. Hypocellularity progressed with time and was more pronounced in encapsulated explants. When encapsulated explants were allowed to attach to the substrate they formed an outgrowth of epithelial cells in a monolayer. The significance of these findings is in the use of the described changes in isolating and establishing epithelial cultures of human prostatic epithelium. These cultures are required for studies on the biology of prostatic epithelium and the etiology and treatment of prostatic neoplasia.