Activation of intestinal epithelial cells in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, induced by algal derivatives

Abstract

This study investigated the influences of two algal derivatives, alginic acid and fucoidan (FUC) on the activities of the intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) of Atlantic cod. The cells were isolated from three regions of the intestines, and primary cultures were incubated with the derivatives followed by temporal analysis of cellular activities. Epithelial cell survival in the fore and hind intestine was not significantly affected by the algal derivatives at both time points (3 and 24 h postincubation, hpi). Cellular survival in the mid-intestine decreased significantly at 3 hpi. Stimulation of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of IEC induced by the algal derivatives was observed to be region dependent. Myeloperoxidase activity in the cells from fore- and mid-intestines was not significantly affected by the two algal derivatives. Both algal derivatives significantly stimulated the activity at 3 hpi in the hind intestinal cells, and FUC-exposed cells remained significantly elevated until 24 hpi. The results showed that algal derivatives could be applied as potential immunostimulants in cod with stimulatory action of MPO activity in the mucosal immune cells of the hind intestine.