Culture of mouse embryonic foregut explants

The ability to culture embryonic organ rudiments and follow their development ex vivo has helped to understand how tissues are constructed and what cellular and biological events are important in this process. Here we outline a technique for isolation and ex vivo growth of foregut explants from E8.5 mouse embryos. This technique serves as a reliable tool for the analysis of the morphogenetic processes and signaling networks during early development of foregut derivatives, such as the lungs.