All-optical scanhead for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging-Imaging mode switching by dichroic filtering

Ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic (PA) multimodality imaging has the advantage of combining good acoustic resolution with high optical contrast. The use of an all-optical scanhead for both imaging modalities can simplify integration of the two systems and miniaturize the imaging scanhead. Herein we propose and demonstrate an all-optical US/PA scanhead using a thin plate for optoacoustic generation in US imaging, a polymer microring resonator for acoustic detection, and a dichroic filter to switch between the two imaging modes by changing the laser wavelength. A synthetic-aperture focusing technique is used to improve the resolution and contrast. Phantom images demonstrate the feasibility of this design, and show that axial and lateral resolutions of 125 μm and 2.52°, respectively, are possible.

Simultaneous viewing of individual cells and ambient microvasculature using optical absorption and fluorescence contrasts

Viewing individual cells and ambient microvasculature simultaneously is crucial for understanding tumor angiogenesis and microenvironments. We developed a confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) and photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) dual-modality imaging system that can assess fluorescent contrast and optical absorption contrast in biologic samples simultaneously. After staining tissues with fluorescent dye at an appropriate concentration, each laser pulse can generate not only sufficient fluorescent signals from cells for CFM but also sufficient photoacoustic signals from microvessels for PAM. To explore the potential of this system for diagnosis of bladder cancer, experiments were conducted on a rat bladder model. The CFM image depicts the morphology of individual cells, showing not only large polygonal umbrella cells but also intracellular components. The PAM image acquired at the same time provides complementary information on the microvascular distribution in the bladder wall, ranging from large vessels to capillaries. This device provides an opportunity to realize both histologic assay and microvascular characterization simultaneously. The combination of the information of individual cells and local microvasculature in the bladder offers the capability of envisioning the viability and activeness of these cells and holds promise for more comprehensive study of bladder cancer in vivo.

Cloning, molecular characterization and expression analysis of heat shock cognate 70 (Hsc70) cDNA from turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

As an essential member of the HSP70 family, heat shock cognate 70 (Hsc70) is a constitutively expressed molecular chaperone involved in protein metabolism. In this paper, turbot Hsc70 was cloned and the expression profile was also analyzed. The full-length cDNA of the turbot Hsc70 was 2,292 bp in length, including a 113-bp 5' UTR, a 223-bp 3' UTR and a 1,956-bp open reading frame coding a protein with 651 amino acid residues. Comparison of amino acid sequence revealed the existence of three classical HSP70 family signature motifs, a signature nonapeptide and one repeat of tetrapeptide in turbot Hsc70. The turbot Hsc70-deduced amino acids sequence exhibited 75.4-96.8 % homology with Hsp70s/Hsc70s of 24 other known sequences. In particular, the strongest homology was found with the cognate members of Hsc70 subfamily and the highest identity was found with Japanese flounder Hsc70. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that turbot Hsc70 transcripts were stably expressed in all tested tissues under normal physiological condition, while the expression levels also increased (~1.5-fold to ~threefold) after heat shock and bacterial infection. In addition, Hsc70 transcripts were detected throughout embryonic development and in turbot embryonic cell line (TEC) in the absence of any stress. Meanwhile, it was also heat inducible, but not cold inducible in TEC. These results suggest that Hsc70 gene may be involved in embryogenesis and cellular protection events under normal and stress condition.

Comparative study of clinicopathological significance, BIRC7, and STC2 expression between squamous cell/adenosquamous carcinomas and adenocarcinoma of gallbladder

Gallbladder cancers (GBCs) are uncommon, but highly aggressive cancers. The majority of GBCs are adenocarcinomas (ACs), but rare subtypes of GBCs such as squamous cell carcinoma (SC) and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) are observed as well. The clinicopathological characteristics of SC/ASC have not been well documented. Expressions of BIRC7 and STC2 were observed in some tumors. However, BIRC7 and STC2 expressions and clinical significances in gallbladder cancer have not been reported.In this study, the protein expressions of BIRC7 and STC2 in 46 SCs/ASCs and 80 ACs were measured using immunohistochemistry. We demonstrated that positive BIRC7 and STC2 expressions were significantly associated with large tumor mass (>3cm), high TNM stage and lymph node metastasis in SC/ASC and AC (p<0.05). Positive expression of BIRC7 was significantly associated with invasion of around tissues and organs in both SC/ASC and AC. Additionally, negative BIRC7 and STC2 expressions were significantly associated with surgical curability in AC. Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that BIRC7 and STC2 expressions, differentiation, tumor size, TNM stages, invasion, lymph node metastasis, and surgical curability were significantly associated with post-operative survival in both SC/ASC and AC patients(p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that positive BIRC7 and STC2 expressions are independent poor-prognostic factors in both SC/ASC and AC patients. Our study suggested that positive BIRC7 and STC2 expressions are closely correlated with clinical, pathological, and biological behaviors as well as poor-prognosis of gallbladder cancer.

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Isolation and characterization of microsatellite DNA loci from the southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma

Paucity of polymorphic molecular markers in southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) has been a major limitation in genetic improvement of this important economic fish. Hence, we constructed a repeat-enriched genomic library from P. lethostigma. A total of 39 new microsatellites were identified, for which 33 primer pairs were designed. After validating and scoring, 10 of these loci were polymorphic in a test population with the range of alleles from two to nine per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.2500 to 0.9000 and from 0.4469 to 0.8514, respectively. These polymorphic microsatellites will be useful for genetic diversity analysis and linkage map construction for P. lethostigma.

A fiber-optic system for dual-modality photoacoustic microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy using miniature components

Imaging of the cells and microvasculature simultaneously is beneficial to the study of tumor angiogenesis and microenvironments. We designed and built a fiber-optic based photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) and confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) dual-modality imaging system. To explore the feasibility of this all-optical device for future endoscopic applications, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) scanner, a miniature objective lens, and a small size optical microring resonator as an acoustic detector were employed trying to meet the requirements of miniaturization. Both the lateral resolutions of PAM and CFM were quantified to be 8.8 μm. Axial resolutions of PAM and CFM were experimentally measured to be 19 μm and 53 μm, respectively. The experiments on ex vivo animal bladder tissues demonstrate the good performance of this system in imaging not only microvasculature but also cellular structure, suggesting that this novel imaging technique holds potential for improved diagnosis and guided treatment of bladder cancer.

Defect properties of ZnO nanowires revealed from an optically detected magnetic resonance study

Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) complemented by photoluminescence measurements is used to evaluate optical and defect properties of ZnO nanowires (NWs) grown by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition. By monitoring visible emissions, several grown-in defects are revealed and attributed to Zn vacancies, shallow (but not effective mass) donor and exchange-coupled pairs of Zn vacancies and Zn interstitials. It is also found that the intensity of the donor-related ODMR signals is substantially lower in the NWs compared with that in bulk ZnO. This may indicate that formation of native donors is suppressed in NWs, which is beneficial for achieving p-type conductivity.

Photoacoustic microscopy: a potential new tool for evaluation of angiogenesis inhibitor

The feasibility of photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) for evaluation of angiogenesis inhibitor was investigated on a chick embryo model in vivo. Different concentrations of the angiogenesis inhibitor, Sunitinib, were applied to the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the chick embryos. Imaging of microvasculature in embryo CAMs was acquired using a laser-scanning PAM system; while the optical microscopy (OM) capturing the microvascular images of the same set of CAMs for comparison served as a gold standard for validating the results from PAM. The microvascular density as a function of applied Sunitinib concentration has been quantified in both PAM and OM images. The results from these two modalities have a good agreement, suggesting that PAM could provide an unbiased quantification of microvascular density for objective evaluation of anti-angiogenesis medication. In comparison with conventional OM which enables only two-dimensional enface imaging, PAM is capable of three-dimensional analysis of microvessels, including not only morphology but also functions, as demonstrated in part by the imaging result on a canine bladder model. The emerging PAM technique shows promise to be used in clinical and preclinical settings for comprehensive and objective evaluation of anti-angiogenesis medications.

Evidence for coupling between exciton emissions and surface plasmon in Ni-coated ZnO nanowires

We show that coating ZnO nanowires (NWs) with a transition metal, such as Ni, can increase the efficiency of light emission at room temperature. Based on detailed structural and optical studies, this enhancement is attributed to energy transfer between near-band-edge emission in ZnO and surface plasmons in the Ni film which leads to an increased rate of the spontaneous emission. It is also shown that the Ni coating leads to an enhanced non-radiative recombination via surface states, which becomes increasingly important at low measurement temperatures and in annealed ZnO/Ni NWs.

Miniaturized all-optical photoacoustic microscopy based on microelectromechanical systems mirror scanning

Achieving photoacoustic microscopic imaging through a miniaturized scanning head is a crucial step toward high-resolution photoacoustic endoscopy. In this work, we have developed a miniaturized probe head using a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based mirror for raster scan of the laser beam and our newly developed super broad bandwidth microring resonator based ultrasound detector for photoacoustic signal detection. Through this all-optical design, which offers unique advantages for endoscopic applications, this system is capable of three-dimensional (3D) imaging with high resolution of 17.5 μm in lateral direction and 20 μm in axial direction at a distance of 3.7 mm. After the performance of this system was validated through the experiments on printed grids and a resolution test target, microscopic imaging of the 3D microvasculatures in canine bladders was also conducted successfully, demonstrating the potential of novel photoacoustic endoscopic in future clinical management of bladder cancer.

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, protects dopaminergic neurons from neurotoxin-induced damage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Prevention or disease-modifying therapies are critical for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. However, no such intervention is currently available. Growing evidence has demonstrated that administration of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors ameliorates a wide range of neurologic and psychiatric disorders in experimental models. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) was the first HDAC inhibitor approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the sole use of cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential new indications of SAHA for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases in in vitro Parkinson's disease models.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures and reconstituted cultures were used to investigate neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of SAHA. We measured toxicity in dopaminergic neurons, using dopamine uptake assay and morphological analysis and expression of neurotrophic substances by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time RT PCR.

KEY RESULTS

In mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures, SAHA displayed dose- and time-dependent prolongation of the survival and protection against neurotoxin-induced neuronal death of dopaminergic neurons. Mechanistic studies revealed that the neuroprotective effects of SAHA were mediated in part by promoting release of neurotrophic factors from astroglia through inhibition of histone deacetylation.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The novel neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of SAHA demonstrated in this study suggest that further study of this HDAC inhibitor could provide a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

All-optical scanhead for ultrasound and photoacoustic dual-modality imaging

We propose a new scanhead design for combined ultrasound (US)/photoacoustic (PA) imaging that can be applied to dual-modality microscopy and biomedical imaging. Both imaging modalities employ the optical generation and detection of acoustic waves. The scanhead consists of an optical fiber with an axicon tip for excitation, and a microring for acoustic detection. No conventional piezoelectric device is needed, and the cost of the design makes it suitable for one-time, disposable use. Furthermore, a single laser pulse is employed to generate both US and PA signals. A subband imaging method can be applied to the receiver to enhance the contrast between the US and PA signals. Phantom data demonstrate the feasibility of this approach.

Cytokines and Behcet's disease

Behcet's Disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Increasing studies find that a sophisticated interlacing cytokine network is closely implicated in the onset, evolution and even organ damages of the disease. Cytokines involved can be categorized as Th1 type, Th2 type, Th17 type, chemokines and other proinflammatory cytokines, etc. The vicious cycle of cytokine network plays a substantial role in the disease pathogenesis and even in organ lesions, and might be disorganized by blocking one of the key links of the cytokines, which in turn may provide essential clues to outlook the target therapy regimen of cytokine agents in BD. There have been a number of case reports of the positive efficacies of cytokine (and cytokine blocker) agents including Infiximab (Human murine chimeric Anti-TNF α monoclonal antibody), Anakinra (recombinant, non-glycosylated human IL1 receptor antagonist) etc in BD. IFN-α had been used clinically in treating BD with uveitis with beneficial efficacy ever since the 1980s. The studies to date suggested that IL6, IP10 are involved in BD with nervous system lesions, IL17, IL18 are relevant to the superimposed uveitis in patients with BD. Some cytokines i.e. IL8, RANTES, MIP-1α are associated with the disease activity, whereas others are exemplified by that of IL10, whose level shows negative relevance to the disease activity, might be potentially cytokine of protecting effect. According to the related genetic study, the SNPs of numerous cytokines including IL1, TNFα, IFNγ, IL12, and IL18 are pertinent to BD. The recent GWAS (Genome Wide Association Studies) demonstrated that SNPs in the IL10 and IL23R-IL12RB2 region are associated with the disease. Most studies nowadays are confined within the cytokines in the peripheral blood levels, owing to the potentially significant roles of certain cytokines in local lesions. It warrants further in-depth study to address this issue. Moreover, it deserves multi-centre study considering the unique geographical "silk road" display picture of the disease.

In vivo flow speed measurement of capillaries by photoacoustic correlation spectroscopy

We recently proposed photoacoustic correlation spectroscopy (PACS) and demonstrated a proof-of-concept experiment. Here we use the technique for in vivo flow speed measurement in capillaries in a chick embryo model. The photoacoustic microscopy system is used to render high spatial resolution and high sensitivity, enabling sufficient signals from single red blood cells. The probe beam size is calibrated by a blood-mimicking phantom. The results indicate the feasibility of using PACS to study flow speeds in capillaries.

Overactive bladder in Taiwanese women: re-analysis of epidemiological database of community from 1999 to 2001

AIMS

To update our previous computerized epidemiological data according to the new taxonomy, we re-evaluated and re-analyzed the data using the current definitions of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) which were approved and published by the ICS in 2002 and 2010 according to patient perception. Further, we divided overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms into OAB dry and OAB wet to assess their prevalence percentages by using the current definitions.

METHODS

OAB syndrome in our computerized database was re-defined as having the following storage symptoms present, that is, frequency, urgency, nocturia, urgency incontinence, or stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The prevalence of OAB syndrome was determined with a different taxonomy for those five storage symptoms either singly or in combination. OAB symptoms which were probably associated with mixed incontinence were either ignored or excluded.

RESULTS

The prevalence of OAB syndrome varied from 34.76% to 28.33% to 20.95% using different classifications of the above five storage symptoms. The prevalence of OAB wet symptoms increased with advancing age and this finding was consistent with three different definitions.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of OAB using the current definition is slightly higher than the result found in our previous published data using a defective classification system of OAB symptoms. The effects of mixed symptoms and probable misclassification cannot be overlooked because many women with OAB (with or without urgency incontinence) might also have SUI.

Simultaneous determination of ten ginsenosides in panacis quinquefolii radix by ultra performance liquid chromatography and quality evaluation based on chemometric methods

A rapid, sensitive and reliable method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector (UPLC-PAD) was developed for both the quantitative analysis of ten bioactive ginsenosides and a chemical-fingerprint analysis. The chromatography was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column using a gradient elution with acetonitrile/water as the mobile phase. To compare the UPLC fingerprints and to evaluate their quality, chemometric methods including similarity analysis (SA) and hierarchical-clustering analysis (HCA) were implemented when classifying the Panacis Quinquefolii Radix samples. The Panacis Quinquefolii Radix samples were successfully grouped in accordance with their geographic origins.

High-sensitivity and wide-directivity ultrasound detection using high Q polymer microring resonators

Small size ultrahigh Q polymer microrings working at near visible wavelength have been experimentally demonstrated as ultralow noise ultrasound detectors with wide directivity at high frequencies (>20 MHz). By combining a resist reflow and a low bias continuous etching and passivation process in mold fabrication, imprinted polymer microrings with drastically improved sidewall smoothness were obtained. An ultralow noise-equivalent pressure of 21.4 Pa over 1-75 MHz range has been achieved using a fabricated detector of 60 μm diameter. The device's wide acceptance angle with high sensitivity considerably benefits ultrasound-related imaging.

Pure optical photoacoustic microscopy

The concept of pure optical photoacoustic microscopy(POPAM) was proposed based on optical rastering of a focused excitation beam and optically sensing the photoacoustic signal using a microring resonator fabricated by a nanoimprinting technique. After the refinements of the microring's working wavelength and in the resonator structure and mold fabrication, an ultrahigh Q factor of 3.0×10(5) was achieved which provided high sensitivity with a noise equivalent detectable pressure(NEDP) value of 29 Pa. This NEDP is much lower than the hundreds of Pascals achieved with existing optical resonant structures such as etalons, fiber gratings and dielectric multilayer interference filters available for acoustic measurement. The featured high sensitivity allowed the microring resonator to detect the weak photoacoustic signals from micro- or submicroscale objects. The inherent superbroad bandwidth of the optical microring resonator combined with an optically focused scanning beam provided POPAM with high resolution in the axial as well as both lateral directions while the axial resolution of conventional photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) suffers from the limited bandwidth of PZT detectors. Furthermore, the broadband microring resonator showed similar sensitivity to that of our most sensitive PZT detector. The current POPAM system provides a lateral resolution of 5 μm and an axial resolution of 8 μm, comparable to that achieved by optical microscopy while presenting the unique contrast of optical absorption and functional information complementing other optical modalities. The 3D structure of microvasculature, including capillary networks, and even individual red blood cells have been discerned successfully in the proof-of-concept experiments on mouse bladders ex vivo and mouse ears in vivo. The potential of approximately GHz bandwidth of the microring resonator also might allow much higher resolution than shown here in microscopy of optical absorption and acoustic propagation properties at depths in unfrozen tissue specimens or thicker tissue sections, which is not now imageable with current optical or acoustic microscopes of comparable resolution.

Low-noise small-size microring ultrasonic detectors for high-resolution photoacoustic imaging

Small size polymer microring resonators have been exploited for photoacoustic (PA) imaging. To demonstrate the advantages of the wide acceptance angle of ultrasound detection of small size microrings, photoacoustic tomography (PAT), and delay-and-sum beamforming PA imaging was conducted. In PAT, we compared the imaging quality using different sizes of detectors with similar noise-equivalent pressures and the same wideband response: 500 μm hydrophone and 100, 60, and 40 μm microrings. The results show significantly improved imaging contrast and high resolution over the whole imaging region using smaller size detectors. The uniform high resolution in PAT imaging using 40 μm microrings indicates the potential to resolve microvasculature over a large imaging region. The improved lateral resolution of two-dimensional and three-dimensional delay-and-sum beamforming PA imaging using a synthetic array demonstrate another advantageous application of small microrings. The small microrings can also be applied to other ultrasound-related imaging applications.

Fabrication and characterization of high Q polymer micro-ring resonator and its application as a sensitive ultrasonic detector

Smooth sidewall silicon micro-ring molds have been fabricated using resist reflow and thermal oxidation method. High Q factor polymer micro-ring resonators have been fabricated using these molds. Quality factors as high as 10(5) have been measured at telecommunication wavelength range. By carefully examining the different loss mechanisms in polymer micro-ring, we find that the surface scattering loss can be as low as 0.23 dB/cm, much smaller than the absorption loss of the polystyrene polymer used in our devices. When used as an ultrasound detector such a high Q polymer micro-ring device can achieve an acoustic sensitivity around 36.3 mV/kPa with 240 μW operating power. A noise equivalent pressure (NEP) is around 88 Pa over a bandwidth range of 1-75 MHz. We have improved the NEP by a factor of 3 compared to our previous best result.

Luminal serotonin time-dependently modulates vagal afferent driven antinociception in response to colorectal distention in rats

BACKGROUND

Compelling evidence shows that vagal afferents mediate antinociception in response to visceral insults. Our recent findings implied that luminal serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) might mediate chronic food allergen sensitized visceral hyperalgesia, in which vagal afferents might be implicated. Here, to test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of luminal infused 5-HT on visceral nociception and the involvement of vagal antinociceptive pathway.

METHODS

The vagus-intact or vagotomized rats were given acute intraluminally or intraperitoneally administered 5-HT, or chronic luminal infusion of 5-HT. The visceromotor response (VMR) to colorectal distension (CRD) was electrophysiologically recorded.

KEY RESULTS

Acute intraluminal infusion of 5-HT (10 or 100 nmol) significantly attenuated VMR to CRD, while systemic administered 5-HT at similar doses resulted in markedly augmented nociception. Pretreatment with luminal application of granisetron or lidocaine, or pharmacological depletion of endogenous 5-HT with injection of p-chlorophenylalanine, a 5-HT synthesis inhibitor, and subdiaphragmatic vagotomy or functional deafferentation with capsaicin abolished the effect of luminal (but not systemic) 5-HT. Chronic infusion of 5-HT (10 nmol d(-1) for 5 days) produced gradual augmentation of baseline VMR. And, the VMR to CRD after 5-HT infusion decreased on day 1 and 2, then gradually increased from day 3. Surgical vagotomy or daily preperfusion with granisetron canceled these time-dependent patterns.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Luminal 5-HT time-dependently modulates vagal afferent driven antinociception. Acute infusion of 5-HT attenuates visceral nociception via activation of vagal afferent 5-HT type 3 receptors (5-HT(3)Rs)within intestinal mucosa; while chronic luminal 5-HT caused gradually developed visceral hyperalgesia, which may also involve vagal 5-HT(3)Rs.

Carbon nanotube composite optoacoustic transmitters for strong and high frequency ultrasound generation

We demonstrate carbon nanotube (CNT) composite-based optoacoustic transmitters that generate strong and high frequency ultrasound. The composite consists of CNTs grown on a substrate, which are embedded in elastomeric polymer used as an acoustic transfer medium. Under pulsed laser excitation, the composite generates very strong optoacoustic pressure: 18 times stronger than a Cr film reference and five times stronger than a gold nanoparticle composite with the same polymer. This enhancement persists over a broadband frequency range of up to 120 MHz and is confirmed by calculation. We suggest the CNT-polymer composites as highly efficient optoacoustic transmitters for high resolution ultrasound imaging.

Development and characterization of a new marine fish cell line from turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

A new marine fish cell line, TK, derived from turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) kidney, was established by the method of trypsin digestion and subcultured for more than 50 passages over a period of 300 days. The TK cells were maintained in Minimum Essential Medium Eagle (MEM) supplemented with HEPES, antibiotics, fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-Me), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The suitable growth temperature for TK cells was 24°C, and microscopically, TK cells were composed of fibroblast-like cells. Chromosome analysis revealed that the TK cell line has a normal diploid karyotype with 2n=44. Two fish viruses LCDV-C (lymphocystis disease virus from China) and TRBIV (turbot reddish body iridovirus) were used to determine the virus susceptibility of TK cell line. The TK cell line was found to be susceptible to TRBIV, and the infection was confirmed by cytopathic effect (CPE) and transmission electron microscopy, which detected the viral particles in the cytoplasm of virus-infected cells. Finally, significant green fluorescent signals were observed when the TK cells were transfected with pEGFP-N3 vector, indicating its potential utility for fish virus study and genetic manipulation.

Establishment, characterization of a new cell line from heart of half smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)

A new cell line was established from the heart of a cultured marine fish, half smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis), designated as CSH (Cynoglossus semilaevis heart cell line). The CSH cells grow over 400 days in minimum essential medium (MEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 2 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The suitable temperature for the cell growth was 24-30°C with the optimum growth at 24°C and a reduced growth at 12 and 30°C. FBS and bFGF concentration were the two important components for CSH cells proliferation. Twenty percent FBS in the medium was found to be the optimum concentration and bFGF promoted the growth of CSH cells. The double time of the cells at 24°C was determined to 73.39 h. Chromosome analysis revealed that 44% of the cells maintained a normal diploid chromosome number (2n=42) in the CSH cells at Passage 58. The fluorescent signals were observed in CSH after the cells were transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter plasmids. CSH cells showed the cytopathic effect (CPE) after infection with lymphosystis disease virus (LCDV). Moreover, the LCDV particles can be observed in the cytoplasm of virus-infected cells by electron microscopy, and a segment of MCP gene for major capsid protein of LCDV was found by PCR amplification DNA of virus-infected cells.