Characterization of a New Continuous Cell Line from Silkworm (Bombyx Mori) Embryos

Abstract

A continuous cell line, designated as SES-BoMo-15A, was obtained from embryos of silkworm, Bombyx mori, strain “Kuroko”. Cells were grown in MGM-448 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) as well as in MM medium with 3% FBS. Cells were mostly spherical in shape and contained many granules. They multiplied in a suspended state, and the population doubling time was about 3 days in the MGM-448 medium at 25°C. Most cells had about 100 microchromosomes. The cell line was distinguishable from other lepidopteran cell lines by the isozyme patterns of some enzymes. The line was susceptible to B. mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus, B. mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus and Chilo iridescent virus. © 1988, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.