Organ culture of rodent prostate. Effects of polyamines and testosterone.

Prostate organs were maintained in culture for 14 days on a plasma clot to which insulin, testosterone, spermine, and spermidine were added. Explants cultured in the control medium (embryo extract and chicken plasma) showed regressive changes and there was complete necrosis by the 5th day. When cultured in the presence of testosterone plus the control medium the explants continued to maintain their epithelial height and stromal characteristics after 5 days. By the 7th day regressive changes similar to those seen for explants cultured in the absence of testosterone were observed. With spermine and spermidine in the medium along with insulin and testosterone, the stromal and epithelial integrity of the explants was kept intact for 14 days. When either testosterone or spermine was omitted from this list of additives, survival and maintenance of normal morphology were greatly impaired. Omission of spermidine did not affect results if the other chemicals were added. No attempts were made to maintain cultures beyond 14 days.