Stimulation of growth by testosterone via the mesenchyme. Recombination of tissues from Tfm and wild-type preputial gland anlagen of mouse embryo.

To establish testosterone-dependent growth in organ-culture anlagen of preputial glands from normal wild-type and from androgen-insensitive mouse embryos carrying the testicular feminization mutation (Tfm) were explanted and cultured in the presence of testosterone. Within six days a size difference developed between Tfm and wild-type explants involving length of hair follicle, amount of preputial gland tissue, and overall size. Anlagen from Tfm and wild-type preputial glands were then separated into epithelial bud and mesenchyme. Reciprocal recombinants were prepared and cultured with testosterone. In the recombinants development of hair follicles and gland tissue was inconsistent. Nevertheless, the effect of testosterone was expressed in the overall size of the explants. The size correlated with the type of mesenchyme used, but not with the type of epithelium: Androgen-insensitive Tfm epithelium combined with wild-type mesenchyme reached the same size as whole wild-type glands and wild-type/wild-type recombinants. Wild-type epithelium with Tfm mesenchyme resulted in small explants, which were in the range of the whole androgen-insensitive Tfm glands. Tfm/Tfm recombinants showed very poor growth, probably related to the fact that in this group no hair or gland structures developed.