A technique to obtain fibroblast cells from skin biopsies of living bats (Chiroptera) for cytogenetic studies

Ricardo Moratelli¹, Cláudio de Moraes Andrade² and Jorge Luís Azevedo de Armada³

¹Biologia Animal, UF Rural RJ, BR 465, km 07, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brasil

²Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Instituto de Veterinária, UF Rural RJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil

³Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, UF Rural RJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil

Corresponding author: R. Moratelli

E-mail: rimoratelli@bol.com.br

Genet. Mol. Res. 1 (2): 128-130 (2002)

Received April 22, 2002

Published May 15, 2002

ABSTRACT. We developed a procedure to obtain fibroblasts from bat skin. A small fragment of the ear is removed under ether anesthesia. This material is then cut up into small pieces and cultured in standard cell culture media. Very good quality chromosome preparations for cytogenetic studies are obtained in about three weeks. Secondary cultures can be used for other biological studies. This procedure does not require sacrificing the animals.

Key words: Cytogenetics, Cell culture, Bats, Chiroptera