ORGAN CULTURE

In the organ culture, the cells are integrated as a single unit which helps to retain the cell to cell interactions found in the native tissues or organs. Due to the preservation of structural integrity of the original tissue, the associated cells continue to exchange signals through cell adhesion or communications. Due to the lack of a vascular system in the organ culture, the nutrient supply and gas exchange of the cells become limited. In order to overcome this problem, the organ cultures are placed at the interface between the liquid and gaseous phases. Sometimes, the cells are exposed to high O2 concentration which may also lead to oxygen induced toxicity. Due to the inadequate supply of the nutrients and oxygen, some degree of necrosis at the central part of the organ may occur. In general, the organ cultures donot grow except some amount of proliferation that may occur on the outer cell layers.