title: Development of a cell line from skin of goldfish, Carassius auratus, and effects of ascorbic acid on collagen deposition.
abstract: Growth characteristics and collagen expression were investigated in GFSk-S1, a cell line derived from the skin of an adult goldfish (Carassius auratus). These cells are anchorage dependent, grow well in Leibovitz-15 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, and have been subcultured routinely for 5 years. Cells at various passages have been successfully cryopreserved and thawed. GFSk-S1 cells show mainly a fibroblastic morphology at low density, but at confluence islands of epithelial-shaped cells appear among the fibroblastic cells. The cells require little maintenance, and cultures have been kept viable for more than 3 months without medium changes. Although best growth was observed at room temperature, cell proliferation still occurred at 28 degrees C, and a subline was maintained and passaged for over a year at 25 degrees C. Cells were exposed to various concentrations of ascorbic acid, and its effects on collagen secretion were monitored by light and electron microscopy. Under phase-contrast microscopy, confluent GFSk-S1 cells exposed to ascorbic acid at 50 micrograms/ml showed distinct development of fibres as early as 3 days after treatment. Histochemical staining for collagen demonstrated a thick network of fibres under a monolayer of ascorbic acid-treated GFSk-S1 cells, and observation by transmission electron microscopy showed collagen fibres with typical banding pattern. This cell line appears to show a stable genotype, as collagen expression was induced at all passages. GFSk-S1 could be useful for studies not only of regulation of protein synthesis, but also of cell differentiation and wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gibbons
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D006054:Goldfish; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D001205:Ascorbic Acid