CHITOOLIGOSACCHARIDES STIMULATE ATLANTIC SALMON, SALMO-SALAR L., HEADKIDNEY LEUKOCYTES TO ENHANCED SUPEROXIDE ANION PRODUCTION IN-VITRO

Chitosans and chitooligosaccharides stimulated Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., head kidney leukocytes in vitro to produce elevated levels o f superoxide anion. Both soluble and insoluble chitooligosaccharides w ere stimulatory 2 and 7 days after addition. Protein-chitooligosacchar ide conjugates were also stimulatory in vitro both at 2 and 7 days aft er addition. Deacetylation seemed to be oi little importance for the s timulatory capacity. High concentrations of the 80% deacetylated chito san/chitooligosaccharides were toxic to the leukocytes as judged by re duced reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium and morphology. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Inc.