EFFECTS OF MOLTING ON THE GROWTH OF PRIMARY CULTURED MUSCLE CELLS FROM MACROBRACHIUM NIPPONENSE AND PENAEUS VANNAMEI

This study examined the effects of molting stage on the growth of primary-cultured cells from the shrimps Macrobrachium nipponense and Penaeus vannamei. Muscle cells in different molting stages were cultured in L-15 medium, supplemented with 1g/l glucose,1g/l MgCl2,1 g/l CaCl2,100 IU/ml penicillin, and 100 µg/ml streptomycin. Results showed that cells cultured in the early postmolt stage grew best. They had an unfolding cell shape, a compact monolayer, a high rate of coverage, and the highest RNA:DNA ratio. Differences among early postmolt, premolt, and intermolt cells were significant (p<0.05).