In vitro cultivation of embryonic rat tongue cells--a convenient system for oral carcinogenesis studies.

Fine mince of embryonic rat tongue suspended in medium and transferred to culture vessel adhere immediately to surface. Epithelial and fibroblastic cell outgrowth seen in the first few days was overgrown with fibroblasts later. Evidence is presented that these fibroblasts are sensitive to post-confluence inhibition of division and exhibit several properties of normal fibroblasts including limited lifespan. This system may serve as a simple in vitro model for oral carcinogenesis studies.