Long-term survival and production of testosterone by immobilized human embryonic testis fragments.

To study a new approach of graft preparation for transplantation of Leydig cells to correct androgen abnormality we have cultivated immobilized human embryonic testis fragments. The cultures were viable for at least 17 days and continuously produced testosterone. The paraffin sections showed histotypic organization of immobilized tissues, but not of free tissues, with good preservation of cells. This indicates that immobilized testicle fragments can be considered as candidates for transplantation grafts.