Primary culture of insect midgut cells.

This protocol describes the preparation of primary cell cultures from Lepidopteran midgut. These cultures have been used to identify factors that control midgut growth and differentiation, cell responses to these factors, effects of toxins on midgut growth, and the regulation of cell physiology. The protocol is divided into (1) procedures for cell collection, (2) composition of the culture, and (3) assay methods used for cell health, proliferation, and differentiation. Collection and setup require 4-6 h. Once established, a culture can survive several months at 25 degrees C, be kept a year or longer at 4 degrees C, or be frozen for indefinite storage.