Induction of hyperplasia and anaplasia by carcinogens in organ cultures of mouse prostate

Summary In an effort to establish a test system to examine the carcinogenic potential of chemicals, mouse prostate explants were maintained as organ cultures and the effects of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic compounds were examined at various intervals after treatment. The degree of hyperplasia produced by a compound was determined by the colcemid metaphase arrest technique. Extensive hyperplasia of the prostatic epithelium occurred at 8 days after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene, the 11–12 epoxide of methylcholanthrene, benzo(a)pyrene and N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. At 12 days most carcinogentreated explants were anaplastic. The noncarcinogenic compounds, pyrene and phenanthrene, did not produce a mitotic stimulatory effect on the epithelium of the explants. The data suggest that the organ culture system of mouse prostate may be employed as a test system to obtain preliminary information regarding the carcinogenicity of a compound. This investigation was supported by Contract No. NO1-CP-22064 from the Lung Cancer Segment, Division of Cancer Cause and Prevention, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health, Education and Welfare.