Cryopreservation of cultured mantle cells of Paphia malabarica for perennial availability.

Laboratory friendly, cryopreservation procedures with respect to cryopreservation formulations and cryopreservation temperatures were attempted, in the present study to ensure perennial availability of cultured mantle cells of bivalve (Paphia malabarica). Screening of cryopreservative formulations with different concentrations of DMSO, Propylene glycol and Glycerol was carried out for cryopreservation of freshly dissociated cells of Paphia malabarica. Out of these cryopreservative formulations, 10% DMSO, 10% Propylene glycol and 15% Glycerol were selected for cryopreservation of the mantle cells pooled from 1-day old primary culture and cell line after 3 passages at the end of different cryopreservation periods. Cryopreservative formulation with 15% glycerol, served as a best cryoprotectant for the cryopreservation of cells sourced from freshly dissociated cells as well as from primary cultures and cell cultures after three passages of mantle cells of Paphia malabarica, retaining metabolic activity of resurrected cells. Both, cell cultures established from uncryopreserved cells as well as cryopreserved cells showed similar alkaline phosphatase and carbonic anhydrase activities thus indicating retention of their biomineralization capacity even after cryopreservation at low and ultralow temperatures.