title: Molluscan cells in culture: primary cell cultures and cell lines.
abstract: In vitrocell culture systems from molluscs have significantly contributed to our basic understanding of complex physiological processes occurring within or between tissue-specific cells, yielding information unattainable using intact animal models.In vitrocultures of neuronal cells from gastropods show how simplified cell models can inform our understanding of complex networks in intact organisms. Primary cell cultures from marine and freshwater bivalve and gastropod species are used as biomonitors for environmental contaminants, as models for gene transfer technologies, and for studies of innate immunity and neoplastic disease. Despite efforts to isolate proliferative cell lines from molluscs, the snailBiomphalaria glabrataSay, 1818 embryonic (Bge) cell line is the only existing cell line originating from any molluscan species. Taking an organ systems approach, this review summarizes efforts to establish molluscan cell cultures and describes the varied applications of primary cell cultures in research. Because of the unique status of the Bge cell line, an account is presented of the establishment of this cell line, and of how these cells have contributed to our understanding of snail host-parasite interactions. Finally, we detail the difficulties commonly encountered in efforts to establish cell lines from molluscs and discuss how these difficulties might be overcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI 53706.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bickham
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bayne
keywords: Biomphalaria glabrata Say 1818 Bge cell line; Mollusca; Primary cell culture; cell line; in vitro