Fish cell lines: establishment of a line from ovaries of channel catfish.

A cell line was established from the ovaries of a healthy, juvenile channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. These cells, designated CCO, have been passed 130 times during 3 years. The cells grow well in Eagle's MEM-10 at a temperature of 30 degrees C. Species of origin of the cells was confirmed by a cytotoxic dye exclusion test. The cells were found to be free of bacterial and fungal contamination. A study of chromosome preparations indicated that the karyotype is still in a state of flux. The CCO line replicated channel catfish virus but was refractory to 12 other viruses, 4 from fish, 1 from birds, and 7 from mammals.