Electron-microscopie observations of a human schwannoma in organotypic culture.

A malignant Schwannoma of the cauda equina has been studied in long-term organotypic culture. Electron-microscopic observation demonstrates that, along with tissue organization, characteristic cell differentiation was retained in this type of culture, but with some morphological changes. As in the biopsy, the tumor cells were elongated and had abundant cell processes in vitro. An increase in the quantity of cytoplasmic filaments and changes in the form of cell processes were observed. Thus organotypic culture of human Schwann cell tumors provides a method of investigating factors which affect their development and differentiation.