Cell lines provide an important biological tool for carrying out investigations into physiology, virology, toxicology, carcinogenesis and transgenics. Teleost fish cell lines have been developed from a broad range of tissues such as ovary, fin, swim bladder, heart, spleen, liver, eye muscle, vertebrae, brain, skin. One hundred and twenty-four new fish cell lines from different fish species ranging from grouper to eel have been reported since the last review by Fryer and Lannan (J Tissue Culture Methods 16: 87-94, 1994). Among the cell lines listed, more than 60% were established from species from Asia, which contributes more than 80% of total fish production. This includes 59 cell lines from 19 freshwater, 54 from 22 marine and 11 from 3 brackish water fishes. Presently, about 283 cell lines have been established from finfish around the world. In addition to the listing and a scientific update on new cell lines, the importance of authentication, applications, cross-contamination and implications of overpassaged cell lines has also been discussed in this comprehensive review. The authors feel that the review will serve an updated database for beginners and established researchers in the field of fish cell line research and development.

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Hypothalamic serotonin (5-HT; content and turnover) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity were measured in female catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, after ovariectomy and supplementation with oestradiol-17 beta (OE2) in the recrudescent and quiescent phases. These factors were correlated with changes in plasma levels of OE2 and gonadotrophin. In the quiescent phase (December), neither ovariectomy nor OE2 supplementation had any significant effect on 5-HT content and MAO activity. Plasma levels of OE2 and gonadotrophin were undetectable in both control and treated fish, indicating that there was no feedback effect. In the recrudescent phase (prespawning, May), ovariectomy caused biphasic responses of MAO activity and 5-HT content. The enzyme activity decreased significantly after 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks but increased significantly 6 weeks after ovariectomy. The 5-HT content varied in a biphasic manner with a significant increase at 2, 3 or 4 weeks and a significant decrease in week 6; there being no effect in week 5. 5-HT turnover was inhibited significantly only in week 4 after ovariectomy and did not show a biphasic pattern. In the ovariectomized groups, the OE2 level decreased significantly in a progressive manner with a maximum reduction in week 6. The plasma level of gonadotrophin showed a significant bimodal pattern of increase with the peak in week 4 after ovariectomy, indicating a strong negative feedback effect of OE2. The bimodal pattern of pituitary gonadotrophin release could be correlated with a similar pattern of increase in 5-HT content. OE2 treatment of fish which had been ovariectomized 3 weeks previously had dose-dependent effects on the enzyme; the low dose (0.1 microgram/g body weight) was stimulatory and the higher doses (0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 micrograms/g body weight) were inhibitory. The reverse was true for 5-HT content. Serotonergic turnover increased significantly only in the groups given high doses (1.0 and 5.0 micrograms/g body weight). The low dose of OE2 (0.1 micrograms/g body weight) restored the gonadotrophin and OE2 levels to those of the sham-ovariectomized vehicle-treated control group, whereas the high doses (0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 micrograms/g body weight) decreased the release of gonadotrophin in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that OE2 modulates MAO activity to alter hypothalamic 5-HT in a seasonally dependent manner. The ovariectomy-induced changes in plasma levels of gonadotrophin appear to be mediated, at least partly, by the feedback action of OE2 on 5-HT metabolism.

Catfish (Clarias barrachus L.) were exposed to selected sublethal concentrations of mercuric chloride (HgCI,; 0.05 mg I-]), methylmercuric chloride (CH,HgCI; 0.04 mg I-]) and emisan 6 (an organic mercurial fungicide; 0.5 mg 1-') for intervals of45,90and 180 days from February to July (preparatory to spawning phase of the annual reproductive cycle). The gonadosomatic index showed a significant decrease after 90-and 180-day exposure to the mercurials. Histologically, the seminiferous tubules were smaller in size and contained mostly spermatids in comparison to the control fish in which they were greatly distended and full of spermatozoa. The Leydig cells showed pycnotic changes in Hg-treated fish after 90 and I80 days. In the Hg-treated testes, total lipid content and 12P uptake decreased significantly after 90 and 180 days. Levels of phospholipids and free cholesterol registered a significant reduction during all the durations. Esterified cholesterol level showed a significant decrease only in the 90-day HgCI, and CH,HgCI groups, and in all 180-day Hg groups, while the level of free fatty acid decreased significantly only in the 180-day Hg groups. The observations suggest that impairment of testicular lipid metabolism by Hg is one of the possible factors that led to the inhibition of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis.