Organculture of adult mouse intestine

Abstract

Explants of adult mouse intestine have been maintained in organ culture for 24 to 48 hr. The best results have been obtained with a mixture of DMEM-HEPES medium and NCTC-135 enriched with 10% fetal bovine serum. The morphology of the mucosa is well preserved at the light electron microscopic level: absorbing cells exhibit an increase in secondary lysosomes; goblet cells and Paneth cells remain active; numerous mitoses are observed in the crypts; and vigorous re-epithelization takes place on the margin of the explants.