A 3D Culture Method of Spheroids of Embryonic and Liver Zebrafish Cell Lines

Fish cell lines are promising in vitro models for ecotoxicity assessment; however, conventional monolayer culture systems (2D culture) have well-known limitations (e.g., culture longevity and maintenance of some in vivo cellular functions). Thus, 3D cultures, such as spheroids, have been proposed, since these models can reproduce tissue-like structures, better recapturing the in vivo conditions. This article describes an effective, easy, and fast 3D culture protocol for the formation of spheroids with two zebrafish (Danio rerio) cell lines: ZEM2S (embryo) and ZFL (normal hepatocyte). The protocol consists of plating the cells in a round-bottom, ultra-low attachment, 96-well plate. After 5 days under orbital shaking (70 rpm), a single spheroid per well is formed. The formed spheroids present stable size and shape, and this method avoids the formation of multiple spheroids in a well; thus, it is not necessary to handpick spheroids of similar sizes. The ease, speed, and reproducibility of this spheroid method make it useful for high-throughput in vitro tests.