Development of primary culture from heart tissue of Chitala chitala (Hamilton-Buchanan)

A method for developing cell cultures from Chitala chitala heart tissue is described. The tissues were minced and seeded in culture flasks and grown in Leibovitz L-15 medium supplemented with 20% foetal bovine serum. The radiation started after 4th day in heart. The medium was changed after every five days. The radiations were able to withstand a wide range of temperatures from 25 °C to 28°C with an optimum temperature of 28°C. A partial monolayer was observed after 12 days in heart tissue. A primary culture was successfully obtained from heart tissue of C. chitala for the first time in India.