Organ culture of lung tissue, as a method of the study of lung tumours and the blastomogenic action of substances that can induce them.

The direct treatment of organ cultures of embryonic and adult lung tissue of mice with urethane did not induce tumours, but the subcutaneous introduction of 100–120 mg of urethane in the second part of pregnancy induced preadenomatous growth and numerous adenomas in the explants of the lungs of the embryos. After 120 mg of urethane during the last 10 days of pregnancy the number of lung adenomas in the organ cultures reached 66,6%. By comparison of the results of transplacental and immediate introduction of urethane the author inclines to the opinion that the blastomogenic action of urethane is indirect.