A comparison of different nutrient media and supplementation with dexamethasone for mouse colon organ culture.

Several complex nutrient media were compared for their effectiveness in maintaining viable and functional mouse colon mucosa in organ culture. The order of superiority for preserving survival of normal tissues for 14 days was: Williams' Medium E greater than Morgan's 199 greater than CMRL-1066 greater than Waymouth's MB 752/l greater than Eagle's MEM greater than Trowell's T8. The 3H-thymidine labeling index was highest in colon explants maintained in Morgan's 199 greater than Williams' Medium E greater than Waymouth's MB 752/l greater than CMRL-1066 greater than Eagle's MEM. However, the very high labeling produced by Morgan's 199 medium was abnormal in comparison to in vivo levels. Supplementation with 1.0 uM dexamethasone almost always improved crypt survival and maintained normal DNA synthetic activity.