56 Development of a model for the study of toxicity and carcinogenicity in vitro

A method has been developed which allows small samples of a variety of human tissues to be grown in culture. Explants established from surgical specimens of breast, bladder, oesophagus, skin, thyroid, larynx and colon can be maintained for at least one month. Cells from the explant migrate initially and then begin to divide. Quantitative analysis of cell growth and growth rate is possible using image analysis and autoradiography. Cell to cell …