The growth of mouse prostate during culture in vitro in chemically defined and natural media, and after transplantation in vivo: The effects of insulin and normal human serum

Abstract

1. 1. Organ cultures of mouse ventral prostate in Trowell's chemically defined medium T8, which contains insulin, showed irregular epithelial hyperplasia after 5 to 7 days. 2. 2. Cultures in serum-containing media or in T8 without insulin retained their normal structure but a similar hyperplasia was produced in cultures in serum-containing media by adding insulin to the medium. 3. 3. The hyperplasia regressed if the cultures were transferred to serumcontaining media without insulin, or transplanted isologously to normal young adult mice. 4. 4. The hyperplastic cells persisted if transferred to an insulin-free chemically defined medium, perhaps because of residual hormone in the cells. 5. 5. Insulin therefore under the conditions of these experiments has a growth-stimulating effect on the epithelium of the mouse ventral prostate. 6. 6. There is a factor present in normal human adult male serum and in normal young adult male mice which destroys the hyperplastic cells and restores the prostatic glands to their normal structure.