Protocol: ex vivo culture of mouse embryonic mammary buds.

The explant culture techniques of embryonic tissues allow continuous monitoring of organ growth and morphogenesis ex vivo. The effect of growth factors and other soluble molecules can be examined by applying them to the culture medium. Relatively few studies have reported application of tissue culture techniques to analysis of embryonic mammary glands. Here we describe a protocol for murine mammary rudiments that permits ex vivo development up to branching stage.