The effect of citrate and polyamines on human benign prostate in organ culture.

A technique for short-term cultivation of slices of human benign prostate tissue in an organ culture environment is described. Minimum essential medium utilized was supplemented with 10 percent fetal bovine serum and 25 mg/mL of citrate, spermine, and spermidine. Spermine in the presence of testosterone in the culture medium induced morphological changes, enhancing the morphology of the tissue. The epithelium was well preserved morphologically. Citrate or spermidine together with testosterone does not enhance any morphological change. After seven days of culture, necrosis was developed. The spent culture medium showed a pattern of prostatic acid phosphatase production. When treated with spermine, the maximum level was reached at four days, after which it decreased. With spermidine or citrate, the maximum level is reached at two days of culture. Tissue β-glucuronidase activity was enhanced by either spermidine, spermine, or citrate together with testosterone. The biochemical studies suggested that explants of human benign prostate can be well maintained in organ culture for a few days.