IN VIVO ORGAN RECONSTRUCTION FROM CELLS CULTURED IN VITRO

Dispersed primary tissue culture cells from adrenal, aorta, heart and cornea of adult rabbits were placed into diffusion chambers. The chambers were implanted into serologically compatible litter mates. Chimaeric aggregates resembling embryonal organs formed in the chambers within 3 weeks. The ‘adrenal’had two to three cortical zones to both sides of a medulla. The ‘aorta’had a central fibromuscular layer and a surface layer of endothelial cells. The ‘heart’consisted of a muscular layer coated with endothelial cells; the aggregate assumed a chamber-like shape. The ‘cornea’had a loose matrix covered on the convexity by epithelial cells. Upon transfer of the aggregates from in vivo to in vitro culture, cells dispersed within 1 week and propagated as a mixed population. Analysis of the phenomenon has been attempted and the course of future studies suggested. The study contributes to the discussion of cell automatism.