Biomaterial Database

Selection of a standard culture medium for primary culture of limulus polyphemus amebocytes. 2005

Lenka V Hurton, and Jim M Berkson, and Stephen A Smith

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.

This study provides information relevant to future research aimed at producing Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) in vitro, which would potentially reduce the need to harvest and bleed horseshoe crabs as in the current methods of LAL production. To address the need for primary culture of horseshoe crab amebocytes, this study tested the effects of a variety of standard insect cell culture media on amebocyte morphology and viability after 7 d of maintenance. Amebocyte morphology was least altered from in vivo form in Grace's Modified Insect Medium, with no observed degranulation of cells, as compared to the other media tested. There were significant differences in amebocyte viability among the six insect cell culture media tested. Grace's Modified Insect Medium sustained viability of 77.2 +/- 5.1% (mean +/- standard deviation) of amebocytes, followed distantly by Grace's Insect Medium with 35.1 +/- 8.7% amebocyte viability. Results indicate that Grace's Modified Insect Medium with horseshoe crab serum supplementation was the best candidate of the six media tested for future medium optimization for Limulus amebocyte requirements.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D006434	Hemocytes	Any blood or formed element especially in invertebrates.	Hemocyte
D006737	Horseshoe Crabs	An arthropod subclass (Xiphosura) comprising the North American (Limulus) and Asiatic (Tachypleus) genera of horseshoe crabs.	Crabs, Horseshoe,Limulus,Limulus polyphemus,Tachypleus,Xiphosura,Crab, Horseshoe,Horseshoe Crab,Xiphosuras
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D018929	Cell Culture Techniques	Methods for maintaining or growing CELLS in vitro.	Cell Culture,Cell Culture Technique,Cell Cultures,Culture Technique, Cell,Culture Techniques, Cell