Studies on human hyperkeratotic oral mucosa kept in tissue and organ cultures

Abstract Tissue from cases of leukoplakia, leukoedema exfoliativa (white sponge naevus) and oral lichen planus was studied in tissue and organ culture for 6–20 days. The structure of the explants was retained better in organ cultures than on plasma clot. In cultures from hyperkeratotic oral mucosa proliferation was observed. The excised oral mucosa retained its differentiation towards keratinization during the period of observation. During cultivation, keratinization increased in intensity and extent; this was most pronounced in hyperorthokeratotic leukoplakia and lichen planus, where keratin plates were formed; parakeratotic leukoplakia retained its character. In leukoedema exfoliativa, intracellular keratinization could be observed in the stratum spinosum. Malignant transformation was not observed in any culture.