Attempts to initiate cell cultures from Penaeus chinensis tissues

Leibovitz's L-15 medium, Grace's insect medium and a newly designed medium for penaeid shrimp (MPS) were compared for their ability to grow cells in culture from Penaeus chinensis. The medium MPS gave the best results with lymphoid and heart cells forming monolayers in 3 days at 22 degrees C. Grace's insect medium was the least effective. There were many cells which migrated from the ovary tissue, and fewer cells from the cerebral ganglion and eye tissues. Fetal bovine serum was essential for cell growth, shrimp muscle extract was less effective and the hemolymph of the mantis shrimp Squilla oratoria inhibited the cells.