Establishment and characterization of a cell line from the American opossum (Didelphys virginiana)

In Vitro. 1978 Mar;14(3):239-46. doi: 10.1007/BF02616032.

Abstract

A permanent tissue-cultured cell line (designated OK) has been established from kidney tissue of an adult American opossum. The OK line has been characterized with respect to morphology, chromosome constitution, tissue-culture requirements, and attainable mitotic arrest. The cells are epithelial-like with a stable nondiploid chromosomal modal number of 23. Cells grown in Eagle's minimal essential medium with 10% fetal bovine serum have a mean doubling time of 18 hr. The cell line OK is potentially useful for the isolation and purification of the mammalian X chromosome because of the size differential between the smaller X's and the larger autosomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line*
  • Chromosomes / analysis
  • Colchicine / pharmacology
  • Culture Media
  • Desmosomes / ultrastructure
  • Epithelium / ultrastructure
  • Female
  • Karyotyping
  • Kidney
  • Mitosis / drug effects
  • Opossums
  • X Chromosome

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Colchicine