ESTABLISHMENT OF A CELL LINE FROM EMBRYOS OF THE CABBAGE LOOPER, TRICHOPLUSIA NI (HUBNER)

A new cell line was developed from 3-d-old embryonated eggs of the cabbage looper,Trichoplusia ni, and has been designated IPLB-TN-R2. It contains a variety of morphological cell types, including myoblastlike, neuroblastlike, and epithelial-like cells. Chromosome analysis revealed typical lepidopteran chromosomes. Isozyme characterization showed patterns similar to two other cabbage looper cell lines (TN-368 and IAL-TND1) in the case of five enzymes but differed from these two lines for two other enzymes. Virus infectivity tests revealed the line is highly susceptible toAutographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus, but no cytopathology was observed after inoculation with several other lepidopteran viruses.