Characterization of a reptilian epithelioid skin cell line derived from the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas.

A continuous line of epithelioid cells was established from explant skin tissues of the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas. These cells, designated GTS, have been subcultured more than 60 times in commercially available mammalian cell culture medium supplemented with 5% bovine calf serum. Of those temperatures tested, optimal growth was achieved at 30 degrees C although replication occurred between 16 and 37 degrees C. These cells may be held as monolayers at 8 degrees C or stored frozen in growth medium containing 10% dimethyl-sulfoxide at -70 or -196 degrees C. The modal number of 55 chromosomes per cell is in agreement with the heterogametic female diploid number of this species. The GTS line represents the first established culture of normal epithelioid skin cells to be reported for a poikilothermic species.