Proliferative responses of rat ventral prostate: effects of variations in organ culture media and methodology.

Effects of variations in organ culture media and methodology on the proliferative activity of rat ventral prostate and its response to testosterone were investigated quantitatively by using the incorporation of [125I]-iododeoxyuridine (125I-UdR) to monitor DNA synthesis. In serum-free medium, maximal increases in DNA synthesis occurred when testosterone was introduced during the first 48 hours of the culture. Supplementation of the medium with 5% fetal calf serum did not alter the responses in control or testosterone-treated cultures, whereas the addition of insulin (3 micrograms/ml) alone or in combination with serum promoted cell proliferation in testosterone-free cultures and enhanced the stimulatory effect of testosterone. Unlike grid-supported cultures, suspension cultures of rat ventral prostate exhibited increased proliferative activity both in the presence and absence of testosterone. Thus, variations in experimental procedure may account for differences in the proliferative activity of rat prostate between organ culture studies.