Vitellogenin is a female-specific calcium-binding glycolipophosphoprotein synthesized in the hepatocytes of fishes. Its synthesis can be induced in fishes of either sex by estradiol or by xenoestrogens. To study the in vitro synthesis of vitellogenin, different culture conditions were set up using the hepatocytes of Clarias gariepinus. The present study reports on a non-enzymatic procedure for isolation and culture of hepatocytes from the liver of the catfish Clarias gariepinus, in order to study the effects of estradiol on vitellogenin synthesis in vitro. The procedure employs chelating properties of ethylenediamine tetracetic acid to achieve cell viability in excess of 95%. Equal numbers of isolated cells were incubated in different culture media viz. RPMI F1640, Medium-199, and Williams' Medium E. At 36 h, cell attachment and monolayer formation is faster in M-199 and Williams' Medium E than in RPMI. In order to study the effects of estradiol on vitellogenin synthesis, the isolated hepatocytes were seeded in Williams' Medium E in 24-well cell culture plates. 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) was introduced in the culture plates at different concentrations and for different time periods. The media were assayed for vitellogenin using competitive ELISA. Vitellogenin appeared in the medium after 48 h of incubation with 10(-5) M estradiol whereas after 72 h of incubation 5x10(-7) M E(2) could elicit the synthesis.