This paper describes a simple method for the freeze-fracturing of cells in monolayers or multi-layer tissue cultures. The method produces high quality replicas and is applicable to the study of virtually any tissue culture or organ culture system. It uses standard materials and equipment for both tissue culture and freeze-fracturing.

Background: In vitro spermatogenesis has a long research history beginning in the early 20th century. This organ culture method was therefore abandoned, and alternative cell culture methods were chosen by many researchers. Here, whether Tnp1, Tekt1, and Plzf, which play a crucial role in spermatogenesis, can be expressed during testis organ culture was assessed. Methods: Testes of 10 mouse pups...

Duodena from 20-day-old chick embryos can be maintained in large scale organ culture on specially designed stainless-steel grids in contact with serum-free medium for 48 h with excellent preservation of mucosal structure at both the light and electron microscope levels. Although mitotic rate was subnormal, several other factors attest to the essential viability of the cultured intestine: L-leuc...

It is well established that the structural integrity of mammalian taste buds is dependent on an intact innervation . This is based on the following lines of evidence . Experiments in which gustatory nerves were severed resulted in degeneration of taste buds (5, 8, 9, 14, 17) . If gustatory nerves were allowed to regenerate into the areas they previously innervated, taste buds reappeared (8, 10,...

Recently, ex vivo three-dimensional organ culture systems have emerged to study the physiology and pathophysiology of human organs. These systems also have potential as a translational tool in tissue engineering; however, this potential is limited by our ability to longitudinally monitor the fate and action of cells used in regenerative therapies. Therefore, we investigated luciferase-mediated ...

www.expert-reviews.com ISSN 1746-9899 © 2011 Expert Reviews Ltd 10.1586/EOP.11.70 The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a cellular monolayer between the neural retina and Bruch’s membrane. It adheres to and interacts with the underlying Bruch’s membrane at its basal side and with the photoreceptor outer segments at its apical side. It contributes to a turnover of photoreceptor outer segment, ...