Optimization of conditions for production of channel catfish ovary cells and channel catfish virus DNA.

Medium supplements were examined for their effect on the growth of channel catfish ovary cells. It was found that the usual serum supplement of 10% fetal calf serum could be successfully replaced with a combination of 5% fetal calf serum and a mixture of insulin, transferrin, and selenous acid. It was also found that these cells could be grown in a more efficient manner on microcarrier beads. This type of culture produced 14 times the number of cells per milliliter of total medium used compared with the usual tissue culture flasks used for cell growth. The microcarrier system also provided for greater production efficiency of DNA from channel catfish virus, a virus that infects this cell line.