Fish Cell Culture: An Update

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the techniques for the preparation and maintenance of fish cell cultures and also presents a more comprehensive view of the broad range of current and potential uses of such cell cultures. The methodologies and growth media for the preparation and maintenance of fish cell cultures generally do not differ from those used for the culture of cells from homeotherm vertebrates. The selection of fish species and appropriate tissues for the initiation of primary cell cultures is usually dictated by the cell type or function to be studied and/or the ultimate use of the cell culture. In many ways, the initiation of cell cultures from fish is actually easier than from homeotherm vertebrates. Most new fish cell cultures can be subcultured for varying periods of time before reaching senescence. The primary impetus for the initiation of fish cell cultures, and until recently the most widespread use of these cultures, has been for the isolation and characterization of fish viruses that are the causative agents of epizootics of commercially important aquaculture or fish farm species. The potential usefulness of fish cell and tissue cultures as teaching tools should not be overlooked. Most fish cell cultures are relatively easy to initiate and/or maintain. They grow over a wide temperature range and most can be propagated at ambient room temperature.