Organ culture of chicken colon: physiological observations after 24 and 48 hours of culture

Colon from chickens, four weeks old, can best be maintained for 24 hours in a serum-free organ culture system using Trowell T8 medium-agar sheet at 25 degrees C. From physiological observations of DNA and protein synthesis it was found that the protein content of colonic explants did not change in up to 48 hours of culture while the DNA content did not change in up to 24 hours but decreased significantly to two thirds of the controls in 48 hours of culture. The organ culture system can be maintained satisfactorily for 24 hours.