CHITOOLIGOSACCHARIDES STIMULATE ATLANTIC SALMON, SALMO SALAR L., HEAD KIDNEY LEUKOCYTES TO ENHANCED SUPEROXIDE ANION PRODUCTION IN VITRO

Abstract Chitosans and chitooligosaccharides stimulated Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., head kidney leukocytes in vitro to produce elevated levels of superoxide anion. Both soluble and insoluble chitooligosaccharides were stimulatory 2 and 7 days after addition. Protein-chitooligosaccharide conjugates were also stimulatory in vitro both at 2 and 7 days after addition. Deacetylation seemed to be of little importance for the stimulatory capacity. High concentrations of the 80% deacetylated chitosan/chitooligosaccharides were toxic to the leukocytes as judged by reduced reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium and morphology.