Cell culture from tissues of grass prawn, Penaeus monodon

Abstract

This study describes attempts to establish a culture system for cells derived from tissues of the grass prawn Penaeus monodon. No cell growth was observed in cultures on fragment of gill, nerve, muscle, gut and hepatopancreas. However, an observable cell growth was obtained in the culture of gonad and heart cells. The best growth of gonad cells occurred in a culture system containing double strength (2X) Leibovitz's L-15 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), 30% muscle extract, 0.006g/ml NaCl and 10% lobster or grass prawn haemolymph. When the gonad cells were cultured in this medium for 7-10 days and incubated at 28-31°C, a confluent monolayer cell sheet was formed. The primary cell culture, predominantly of epithelioid cells, could be maintained for approximately two months at 28-31°c with a weekly change of medium. After the third consecutive subculture, the cells degenerated and dislodged from the flask surface.