title: Explant culture of human fetal small intestine.
abstract: Human fetal intestine (10-14 wk gestation) has been cultured as explants in a serum-free Leibovitz L-15 medium for periods up to 9 days. As determined by light microscopy, the overall architecture of the intestinal explant was maintained throughout the culture period. At the ultrastructural level the villus absorptive cells remained tall with well-defined brush border, apical tubular system, and supranuclear and infranuclear accumulations of glycogen. All other epithelial cell types were also preserved. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine and [3H]leucine continued during the culture period, reflecting a sustained synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid and proteins. The hydrolytic activities of the brush border membrane were established based on data obtained throughout the course of the culture of a large number of intestinal specimens. Sucrase, maltase, glucoamylase, trehalase, lactase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities increased during the 9 days of culture even though different patterns were recorded. These observations clearly established that human fetal small intestine can be maintained in organ culture for at least 9 days in a serum-free medium.
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008938:Mitosis; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004247:DNA