The Human Acoustic Neurinoma in Organ Culture

Abstract

Human acoustic neurinoma tissue obtained at operations on patients with this disease has been ex-planted to an organ culture system. Both cell morphology and the intercellular substance have been preserved with regard to light and electron microscopy for 29 days when the experiment was ended. After approximately one week in vitro the organ culture specimens were often surrounded by a thin layer of elongated cells which in the electron microscope lacked a basal membrane, indicating their fibroblastic origin. According to the present study it seems likely that the en bloc technique can be used for extending the period in vitro to several months.