New cell line from adipopancreatic tissue of Atlantic herring Clupea harengus

We report the isolation, cultivation, and cryopreservation of cells from adipopancreatic tissue of adult Atlantic herring Clupea harengus. The cell population was cultured for >1 yr and had a mean doubling time of 2 wk. Immunocytochemical analyses revealed that >50% of cells contained glial fibrillary acidic protein and pan-cytokeratins. Vigilin, a well-conserved protein related to mRNA transport, was found in only 11% of cells. Alpha smooth-muscle actin and stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 were even less abundant (<5%). Although little is known about tissue homeostasis and regeneration in adult C. harengus, the heterogeneity and long-term proliferation of the cell population described here suggest that it may contain stem cells or progenitor cells. Before the present study, there was only one C. harengus cell line available to researchers. The newly established cell line described in the present study represents an important addition to scientific investigation as well as aquaculture industries and toxicological/virological testing of herring populations.