Long-term survival of normal adult human tissues as xenografts in congenitally athymic nude mice.

Abstract

Bronchi, pancreatic ducts, and colons from adult human were maintained as xenografts in congenitally athymic nude N:NIH(S) mice for 715, 145, and 89 days, respectively. After an ischemic crisis and revascularization of the human tissue, the epithelium regenerated to a normal differentiated morphology. The long-term survival of normal adult human epithelial tissues as xenografts provides model systems for the study of the interactions of chemical and/or physical carcinogens with human tissues.