Analysing tissue and gene function in intestinal organ culture.

The study of growth, differentiation, and migration of different cell types within the developing intestine has been enhanced by the development of methods to grow intestinal tissue in organ culture. Here, we describe the innovative method of catenary culture where the tubular architecture of the intestine is maintained and normal cell differentiation occurs. Rapid analysis of gene function can be achieved using low voltage, square wave electroporation to introduce expression constructs into the epithelial cell layer of cultured explants. This whole-organ culture system allows cells, signalling pathways, and gene function to be analysed in intact explants of embryonic gut that are accessible for experimental manipulation and live cell imaging.