Dermacentor andersoni: Culture of whole salivary glands

Whole salivary glands were dissected from Dermacentor andersoni (Stiles) female ticks in the slow phase of engorgement and were exposed to various culture conditions. The rate of fluid secretion in vitro was used as an assay for survival time in culture. Our best results were obtained when glands were submerged in TC 199 supplemented with 10% newborn calf serum, the atmosphere being 4% CO 2 in oxygen. Under these conditions glands secreted at a rate of 73% after 3 days and 25% after 7 days in culture compared to freshly excised glands. Supplements of insulin and cortisol were beneficial.