Development of a Cell Culture System From Gill Explants of the Grouper, Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch and Shneider)

Abstract

A cell culture system was developed successfully from gill explants of the Malabar grouper, Epinephelus malabaricus. Gill tissue samples aseptically excised from healthy juveniles of E. malabaricus were explanted in Leibovitz’ L-15 medium supplemented with 0.07 M NaCl and 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS). A mixture of different types of cells emerged from the explants, and these cells were observed to spread and attach to the culture flasks from the second day onwards. Confluent monolayers comprising epithelioid as well as fibroblast-like cells were formed within ten days. The cells were found to grow well at 28 + 2°C. The cell monolayers were subcultured by trypsinization and seeded into new flasks, which produced confluent monolayers comprising predominantly epithelioid-like cells in subsequent passages.