EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT VERTEBRATE GROWTH-FACTORS ON PRIMARY CULTURES OFHEMOCYTES FROM THE GASTROPOD MOLLUSK, HALIOTIS-TUBERCULATA

A useful experimental system from primary cultures of hemocytes from H aliotis tuberculata has been established. Six days after initiation of the culture, the viability of hemocytes remained constant as measured by the MTT assay. In addition, hemocytes showed physiological respons es as judged by protein and DNA syntheses in response to treatment wit h vertebrate growth factors. Porcine insulin and human epidermal growt h factor (EGF) stimulated [H-3]-leucine and [H-3]-thymidine incorporat ion in hemocytes in a dose-dependent manner. No additive effect of ins ulin and EGF is observed either for [H-3]-leucine or for [H-3]-thymidi ne incorporation. The response of primary cultures of abalone hemocyte s to vertebrate growth factors confirms their growth potential in vitr o and provides a suitable model for further studies on regulation of t he control of cellular processes such as cell growth, differentiation and migration in invertebrate cells.