The Long-Term Organ Culture of Tissues from Adult Amphiuma, The Congo Eel

Abstract

Fragments of pancreas, liver, spleen, kidney and lung from Amphiuma means, the Congo eel, were maintained in organ culture for up to 35 days in a modified Leibovitz L15 medium. These Amphiuma tissues retained their typical histological features throughout the culture period, surviving better and for longer than tissues from other amphibian species. Liver and spleen survived better in hypotonic or isotonic media (125-230 mosmol/kg) than in hypertonic media (255-305 mosmol/kg). The mitotic incidences of these tissues in vivo were very low, and while there were no significant increases in liver, spleen and lung fragments in vitro, there were large increases in kidney and pancreas fragments. Amylase activity was found in pancreas fragments and in medium from pancreas cultures after 28 days in vitro. Amphiuma organ cultures may be useful in the in vitro study of the control of cell proliferation and cell function while normal cell interactions are maintained.