The ovary is an excellent system for studying stem cell renewal and differentiation,which is under the control of ovarian somatic cells.In order to understand oogenesis in Fugu rubripes(Temminck et.Schlegel) as a marine fish model of aquaculture importance,we established cell lines called TSOC1 and TSOC2 from a juvenile ovary of this organism.TSOC1 is composed of spindle epithelial-like cells,while the other is cobblestone-like cells.Therefore,TSOC1 and TSOC2 appear to consist of ovarian somatic cells.Growth requirement condition was investigated including temperature,concentration of FBS and p H.Significant fluorescent signals were observed after TSOC1 and TSOC2 cells were transfected with p EGFP-N3 vector,indicating its potential utility for genetic manipulation such as gene function studies.It is shown that these cell lines are effective for infection by the turbot reddish body iridovirus and flounder lymphosystis disease virus as evidenced by the appearance of cytopathic effect and virus propagation in the virus-infected cells,and most convincingly,the observation of viral particles by electron microscopy,demonstrating that TSOC1 and TSOC2 are suitable to study interactions between virus and host cells.It is believed that TSOC1 and TSOC2 will be useful tools to study sex-related events and interactions between primordial germ cells and oogonia cells during oogenesis.Therefore,establishment of ovary cell lines from Fugu rubripes seems to be significant for those research areas. The ovary is an excellent system for studying stem cell renewal and differentiation, which is under the control of ovarian somatic cells. In order to understand oogenesis in Fugu rubripes (Temminck et Schlegel) as a marine fish model of aquaculture importance, we established cell lines called TSOC1 and TSOC2 from a juvenile ovary of this organism. TSOC1 is composed of a spindle epithelial-like cell, while the other is cobblestone-like cells. Beforefore, TSOC1 and TSOC2 appear to consist of ovarian somatic cells. Growth condition condition was investigated including temperature, concentration of FBS and p H.Significant fluorescent signals were observed after TSOC1 and TSOC2 cells were transfected with p EGFP-N3 vector, indicating its potential utility for genetic manipulation such as gene function studies. It is shown that these cell lines are effective for infection by the turbot reddish body iridovirus and flounder lymphosystis disease virus as evidenced by the appearance of cytopathic effect and virus propagation in the virus-infected cells, and most convincingly, the observation of viral particles by electron microscopy, demonstrating that TSOC1 and TSOC2 are suitable to study interactions between virus and host cells. It is believed that TSOC1 and TSOC2 will be useful tools to study sex-related events and interactions between primordial germ cells and oogonia cells during oogenesis. Beforefore, establishment of ovary cell lines from Fugu rubripes seems to be significant for those research areas.