Organ culture of canine prostate.

The simple life support system of organ culture contrasts sharply with the life support system in vivo. Organ culture, a technique for characterizing the effect of various substances on an organ, has potential clinical usefulness in many areas. In the present case explants of canine prostate are minimally maintained when cultivated in a medium enriched with testosterone and insulin. Pretreatment of the dog with methylprednisolone or the addition of vitamin A markedly improves the maintenance of normal structure. Methylprednisolone pretreatment and the addition of vitamin A had a significant synergistic effect. The clinical significance and implications of the findings are presented. We believe these preliminary experiments with organ culture can serve as a basis for deciphering some of the complex functions or an organ.