DEVELOPMENT OF A CELL-LINE FROM PRIMARY CULTURES OF RAINBOW-TROUT, ONCORHYRZCHUS MYKISS (WALBAUM), GILLS

Collagenase was used to prepare primary cell cultures from rainbow tro ut, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), gills. Although difficult to subcul tivate, one primary culture led to the development of a cell line, RTg ill-W1. RTgill-W1 grew in the basal medium, L-15, supplemented with fo etal bovine serum at between 5 and 10%, but not in L-15 alone. The cel ls have been passaged approximately 50 times over a 4-year period. At confluency, the cell shape was predominantly polygonal or epithelial-l ike. RTgill-W1 cultures were demonstrated by DNA staining with H33258 and by growth on agar to be contaminated with mycoplasma, but this con taminant was eradicated by treatment with mycoplasma removal agent (MR A) and BM cyclin.