STUDIES ON GROWTH IN ORGAN CULTURE OF TESTICULAR TISSUE FROM RATS OF VARIOUS AGES.

Abstract

AbstractTesticular fragments from newborn, 4, 14, 24, 37‐day old and mature rats were cultured using a modification of Trowell's method. Eagle's medium supplemented with amino acids, Na‐pyruvate and 10% calf serum was employed. Tissue fragments were fixed at time intervals for histologic study. In cultures of fragments from newborn and four‐day rats, gonocytes persisted and showed mitotic activity. In fragments from older but still immature animals, gonocyte‐like cells occasionally undergoing mitosis, appeared in the germinal epithelium after the fourth day in culture. Spermatocytes survived for approximately four weeks. More rapid degeneration of the germinal elements beyond spermatogonia was observed in cultures of mature testes. During the first six days in culture, cells resembling gonocytes, some in mitosis, appeared in the tubules. The studies have shown that under the conditions employed, Sertoli cells and gonocyte‐like could be maintained for at least four months in cultured fragments of testes from animals of various ages. In fragments from older animals, gonocyte‐like cells appeared shortly after initiation of culture while the more mature germinal elements ultimately degenerated.