Parabiotic chamber for organ cultures: improved model.

A modified parabiotic chamber for organ cultures is described. It consists of a modified organ culture dish, glass cover slip, a cylinder of semipermeable membrane, and a stainless-steel mesh filter support. Silicone and agar seals were used. Diffusion occurred rapidly and with consistent rates at 37 C when a ratio of 5:2 reservoir to inner chamber volume was used. The device is simple to construct and assemble and allows for continuous observation while maintaining a large surface area available for diffusion. The volumes of the reservoir, inner chamber, and agar base can be varied, and the chamber may be used with a wide variety of cell and organ culture systems.