Growth, morphogenesis, and differentiation during mouse prostate development in situ, in renal grafts, and in vitro.
BACKGROUND
In vitro organ culture and renal grafting of the urogenital sinus (UGS) have both been used as models of prostate development. However, neither has been rigorously examined for its fidelity to replicate the canonical process of prostate differentiation in situ.


METHODS
We assessed size, morphology, histology, and the mRNA expression of differentiation marker genes of the E14 male mouse UGS grown for 0-28 days as sub-renal capsule allografts in nude mice or in culture containing androgen and compared these to UGS development in situ.


RESULTS
Development of grafted tissues was morphologically and histologically similar to development in situ but differentiation occurred more rapidly. UGS growth in organ culture resulted in bud formation, but did not trigger cellular differentiation. However, the potential for differentiation was maintained and could be rescued by grafting tissues into nude mice.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro organ culture and renal grafting of UGS tissues may be appropriate models for studying prostatic bud formation, but only grafting is an appropriate model for prostatic differentiation.
Doles
J D
JD
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Surgery, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, USA.
Vezina
C M
CM
Lipinski
R J
RJ
Peterson
R E
RE
Bushman
W
W
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013370:Subrenal Capsule Assay / Q000379:methods; D013739:Testosterone / Q000502:physiology
D013739:Testosterone; D012313:RNA