Scanning electron microscopy of palatal mucosa maintained in organ culture: a method for three-dimensional visualization of cell morphology.

A scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study of palatal mucosa maintained in organ culture (50% O2-Eagle's MEM w/o serum) from 12 to 360 hours is presented. The morphological changes occurring in the explants during culture are illustrated and the findings are compared with those observed using transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy. The results confirm that cellular fine structure in epithelium and connective tissue is more easily visualized when SEM is employed following in vitro maintenance of explants as opposed to examination of fresh uncultured biopsies. The in vitro system used would appear to be applicable to studies designed to investigate the effect of various substances on cell proliferation and cell interactions.