Abstract
We have developed an organ culture model for the study of biochemical and morphological maturation in late gestation fetal rat lung. Lungs from 18 or 19 day fetal rats are chopped into cubes with 0.8 mm sides using a McIlwain tissue chopper. The explants are placed on a millipore filter supported on a stainless steel grid and cultured in F12 medium in 95%O2, 5%CO2 at 37'C. Use of an air and CO2 environment resulted in areas of central necrosis.
Morphologic maturation continues in culture with the progressive development of larger and more numerous alveoli, flatter alveolar lining cells and less stromal tissue. There is a progressive decrease in type II cell glycogen content and an increase in the number of lamellar bodies. Vascular elements are less well preserved. Biochemical findings after varying periods in culture are tabulated below. Values are expressed as a percentage of those obtained with fresh lung tissue from 18 or 19 day fetuses.
This data indicates that fetal lung remains viable in short term organ culture, a useful model for the study of hormonal influences on lung development. Supported by HL19752.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gross, I., Czaika, M., Walker Smith, G. et al. AN ORGAN CULTURE MODEL FOR THE STUDY OF FETAL LUNG MATURATION. Pediatr Res 11, 406 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00220
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00220