title: Flow cytometric analysis and optimisation for measuring phagocytosis in three Australian freshwater fish.
abstract: The phagocytic activity of fish immunocytes has been measured by a wide range of methods, and has been used as a bio-indicator to assess the immunotoxicity of environmental pollutants and the efficiency of immunostimulants used in aquaculture. This study demonstrates the utilisation of a flow cytometric technique for measuring phagocytosis as an alternative to manual evaluations by light microscopy. Optimal conditions for the phagocytosis of latex beads were ascertained, including incubation period, cell:bead ratio and media components, for head kidney cells isolated from three native Australian fish that inhabit the Murray-Darling basin, i.e. silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus), golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) and crimson-spotted rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis). Thus, standardised protocols have now been established for future use in the immunotoxicity testing of xenobiotics in native Australian freshwater fish.
authors.affiliation: Key Centre for Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, RMIT-University, P.O. Box 71, Plenty Road, Bundoora, Vic. 3083, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Harford
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Halloran
authors.forename: Paul F A
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods*; D001315:Australia; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005399:Fishes / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005618:Fresh Water; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity