An organ explant culture system for the intact chick pancreatic splenic lobe (SL) was characterized for exocrine function. Organ cultures were prepared using the pancreatic splenic lobe from 9- and 15-day-old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres x Arbor Acres) to characterize amylase release as well as tissue integrity during 2, 4, 8, and 12 h of incubation. Light microscopy studies indicated necrosis of the exocrine pancreatic acini after 4 h of incubation. Changes in islets of Langerhans were noted 4 h after incubation, but islet structural integrity remained intact for up to 12 h of incubation. Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels measured in the culture medium did not increase significantly from 2 to 4 h of incubation. After 4 h of incubation, total LD levels increased (P < .05) for the 9-day-old SL cultures, and LD levels increased (P < .01) per unit weight of SL for the 15-day-old cultures. Medium amylase activity did not increase after 2 h of incubation. Large increases occurred for total amylase activity and amylase activity per unit weight of SL between 4 and 12 h of incubation for both 9- and 15-day-old cultures. Histological examination as well as increases in LD and amylase activities for total and per unit weight of SL in the incubation medium suggest that the viability of the 9- and 15-day-old SL organ incubation system decreases after 4 h.