Tissue Culture of Normal Human Post-Pubertal Prostate

Abstract

Total prostatectomies were performed in 10 young male cadaver renal donors and explant cultures were prepared in Falcon flasks. Growth of a monolayer of predominantly epithelial cells occurred rapidly (latent time 3–5 days) and the flasks became confluent within 15–17 days. The monolayers grew well even when a needle was used to circumscribe and remove the explants. Passaging of monolayer cells by seeding at a density of 5 × 10⁵ resulted in the vigorous growth of epithelial cells. However, the cultures were eventually overgrown by fibroblasts. Similar explant cultures of benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatic carcinoma demonstrated a longer latent time, rarely attained confluence, died after explant removal, and could not be passaged.