ABSTRACT
Whole hearts of ammocoete larvae of Mor dada mordax were cultured at temperatures ranging from 37 to 5 °C.
Rapid death of cultures occurred at 37 °C. A temperature of 30 °C was ultimately lethal but viability as indicated by heart beat could be maintained for up to 6 days. Total viability was usually maintained in temperatures from 25 to 5 °C.
Rate of heart beat varied in absolute values but the relative pattern in relationship to incubation temperatures was more or less constant. The optimal temperature was 25 °C.
Cell outgrowth occurred at 25, 20 and 15 °C. The optimal temperature for rate of outgrowth appeared to be 25 °C, but cultures at 20 °C were also satisfactory.
Chopped kidney and liver explants were also cultured. Successful outgrowth was obtained from almost all kidney cultures at 25 and 20 °C. Outgrowth from liver was extremely rare and occurred only at 25 and 20 °C.
Successful outgrowth was obtained in media lacking any homologous component. Dilution of standard media by approximately 10 % appeared to be necessary for outgrowth but viability could be maintained in undiluted media.
A correlation appears to exist between the upper limit of temperature suitable for maintenance of ammocoete tissues in vitro and the highest temperatures encountered by the whole animals in their natural environment.
