Table 1.

Summary of existing gut explant culture platforms and culture conditions.

Platform	Culture Condition	Size	Duration	Note
Air–liquid interface	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% O2	n/a	24 h	The interchange of macromolecules in the culture medium was defined as an important factor [12].
Rocker system	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% O2	5 × 5 mm	3 months	The rocker system allowed the samples to be intermittently exposed to the air and prevented the accumulation of mucus, digestive enzyme, hormones, and growth factor by agitation. The technique allowed the culture of rat colon explants for up to 3 months [14], and human colon explants for up to 20 days [13].
Rocker system	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% O2	5 × 5 mm	20 days
Catenary culture	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% Air	Whole section	10 days	Embryonic gut segments were cultured in suspension while immersed in media. The cultured segments showed random contraction after day 6 [17].
Free-floating culture	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% Air	Whole gut	14 days	The whole embryonic mouse gut was cultured as a “free-floating organ”. Peristalsis was observed after 48 h [45].
Air–liquid interface	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% Air	2–3 mm3	12 days	The samples were cultured on a submerged gel foam raft. Human colon explants with epithelial and muscular mucosae were cultured for HIV-1 infection study [48].
Immersion culture	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% Air	Whole section	11 days	Mouse embryo intestinal explants were plated on fibronectin-coated coverslips and immersed in liquid media [16].
Membrane insert	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% Air	200 µm slices	14 days	The contraction was maintained up to day 14. After 2 weeks of culture, treatment with 100 μM of serotonin and 10 μM of calcium channel blocker tetrodotoxin increased and reduced contraction, respectively [46].
Membrane insert	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% Air	2 mm2	14 days	Murine colon segments were cultured in liquid-cover media for up to 2 weeks [49].
Membrane insert	37 °C, 5%CO2, 95% Air	12 mm2	35 days	Culture of colon segments from SCID mice by membrane insert technique [47].