Abstract: A method, extract, and pharmaceutical composition for inducing angiogenesis in a tissue of a mammal, and of a device for the preparation and delivery of micro-organs into a mammal, are provided.

Abstract: A device for performing a biological modification of a fluid, the device includes (a) a chamber having an inlet for intake of the fluid and an outlet for outflow of the fluid; and (b) a collection of micro-organ cultures of at least one organ for performing the biological modification of the fluid, each individual micro-organ culture of the collection including cells and having dimensions, such that cells positioned deepest within the individual micro-organ culture are at least about 100 micrometers and not more than about 225 micrometers away from a nearest surface of the individual micro-organ culture, thereby in vivo organ architecture (organ structure) of organ units (e.g., acinus of liver) is maintained within each individual micro-organ culture, the collection of micro-organ cultures being located within the chamber and the collection of micro-organ cultures being in contact with at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the chamber.

Abstract: A device for performing a biological modification of a fluid, the device includes (a) a chamber having an inlet for intake of the fluid and an outlet for outflow of the fluid; and (b) a collection of micro-organ cultures of at least one organ for performing the biological modification of the fluid, each individual micro-organ culture of the collection including cells and having dimensions, such that cells positioned deepest within the individual micro-organ culture are at least about 100 micrometers and not more than about 225 micrometers away from a nearest surface of the individual micro-organ culture, thereby in vivo organ architecture (organ structure) of organ units (e.g., acinus of liver) is maintained within each individual micro-organ culture, the collection of micro-organ cultures being located within the chamber and the collection of micro-organ cultures being in contact with at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the chamber.

Abstract: A micro-organ culture is provided that includes a nutrient medium in a culture vessel, the vessel containing an oxygen concentration not substantially greater than that in the atmosphere and a population of non-fetal animal cells disposed in the nutrient medium for greater than 24 hours. The population of cells is derived from an organ which has an in vivo structure including an epithelial tissue and an adjacent stroma. The population of cells consists of a plurality of cell types, the population including both stromal and epithelial tissues of the in vivo tissue structure. Furthermore, the population of cells has a volume described by a first, second and third dimension such that at least one dimension is no greater than 0.45 mm. The stromal and epithelial tissues are preserved in the nutrient medium devoid of an internally disposed synthetic support structure or sandwich structure.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical preparations for controlling proliferation of ectodermally-derived tissues comprising the specific negative growth factor activin A or an agonist thereof, and their use in methods of treatment of proliferative conditions and wound repair.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of hyperproliferative epidermal conditions comprising the specific negative growth factor activin A, and their use in methods of treatment of hyperproliferative epidermal conditions.