Enzymatic isolation and culture of cement secreting cells from cypris larvae of the barnacle Megabalanus rosa

Abstract

Isolation of viable secretory cells from cyprid cement glands of the barnacle Megabalanus rosa was achieved by trypsin digestion followed by mechanical treatment. Isolated cells, which were classified into two groups based on cell and granule size, were comparable to earlier descriptions of α‐ and ß‐cells in the cement glands of Balanus balanoides. "α‐Cells”; were large, elongated and contained many small secretory granules (α‐granules), while “ß cells”; were small and contained several larger granules (ß‐granules). α‐Granules expanded significantly when exposed to solutions containing low NaCI concentrations after methanol fixation, whilst ß‐granules did not, suggesting differences in the properties of the respective granules. Isolated cells were cultured for up to one week. The potential application of in vitro cell culture for physiological studies is presented.