Establishment of Cell Lines from Slender Walking Catfish Clarias nieuhofii (Valenciennes, 1840)

The slender walking catfish (Clarias nieuhofii Valenciennes, 1840) is a freshwater fish found in the ecosystems within the peat swamp forests of South-East Asian countries, including Thailand. In this study, a new testis fibroblast-like (FLT) and ovary epithelial-like (ELO) cells derived from C. nieuhofii (Valenciennes, 1840) was established. The optimal number of both cells was determined, and the optimal starting concentration of both cells is approximately 105 cellsžml-1. The FLT and ELO can grow best at 28 °C in DMEM supplemented with 20, 15, and 10 % fetal bovine serum (FBS). Chromosome analysis revealed that the typical diploid chromosome number was 66 (2n) in C. nieuhofii (Valenciennes, 1840). In both males and females, the elementary number of chromosomes (NF; the number of chromosome arms) was 98. No heteromorphic chromosome was observed. Four types of chromosomes were found in this species, including 14 metacentric, 20 submetacentric, 2 acrocentric, and 30 telocentric chromosomes. The FLT and ELO cells were maintained up to 6 months with more than 20 passages successfully cryopreserved and thawed.HIGHLIGHTSTwo new fibroblast-like cell from testis and epithelium-like cell from ovary, derived from slender walking catfish Clarias nieuhofii (Valenciennes, 1840) have been successfully established by explant outgrowth techniqueIndicated the optimal cell density, fetal bovine serum and types of culture media for growing of both cellsChromosome analysis revealed that the typical diploid chromosome number is 66 (2n) in Clarias nieuhofii (Valenciennes, 1840)GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT