Isolation and Culture of Amphibian (Xenopus laevis) Sub-Capsular Liver and Bone Marrow Cells.

The X. laevis sub-capsular liver is thought to be the principal hematopoietic site of Xenopodinae species from early development and, in case of certain species, into adulthood. The Xenopus bone marrow appears to be comprised of precursor cells committed to myeloid lineages, such as macrophage- and granulocyte-progenitor cells. With alarming increases in the contribution of pathogenic infections to the global amphibian declines, now more than ever a better understanding of the mechanisms controlling amphibian immune cell ontogeny and functionality is warranted. Accordingly, here we detail the isolation and culture of the X. laevis hematopoietic cells from the sub-capsular liver and bone marrow. Considering the immunological roles attributed to these amphibian organs, the respective cell isolation protocols described here will be pertinent to garnering further insights into the coordinated regulation of amphibian hematopoiesis and immune defense mechanisms.