Separation by velocity sedimentation of the gill epithelial cells and their ATPases activities in the seawater adapted eel Anguilla anguilla L.

The separation of cell populations by sedimentation was carried out on heterogeneous suspensions of branchial cells of the seawater adapted eel Anguilla anguilla. The cell sedimentation rates vary mainly in relation to size and permit the separation of enriched fractions of chloride cells and respiratory cells. The method is described and discussed. The homogeneity of the separated populations was checked by microscopy and particle counting. An enrichment of 95% by volume concentration of the two main cell types was obtained. The separated cells had good viability (85-95% viable). This was controlled by Trypan blue exclusion tests. The adenosine triphosphatase activities of the different cell populations were measured and compared.