Cytological observations on the blood and hemopoietic tissue in the crab, Callinectes sapidus

Abstract

A fine structural analysis of hemocytes recovered from the pericardial sinus of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) demonstrates that hyaline cells, intermediate cells, and granulocytes are present in the hemolymph. A detailed consideration of their shared and differing cytological features suggests that the various blood cells represent different stages of cytogenesis along a common or single path of cellular differentiation. The potential functional complexity of the hemocytes is attested to by the occurrence within their cytoplasm of three and/or possibly four morphologically distinct types of inclusion bodies, and other membrane-bounded compartments (e.g., lysosome-like structures, autophagic vacuoles, peroxisome-like bodies) whose function is unknown. Preliminary examination of the well-developed Golgi organelle in the intermediate cells and granulocytes indicates its probable participation in the elaboration of the inclusion bodies; however, the details of its role in granulogenesis and in the known plurifunctional capacities of these cells remain obscure.

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“…In T. schirnerae, the size, shape and density played a decisive role in classifying granules into six distinct types which is in accordance with the classification of Bodammer (1978) and Clare and Lumb (1994) in C. sapidus. Laxmilatha and Laxminarayana (2004) reported the presence of two granule types -very dense and less dense -in the granulocytes of F. indicus.…”

“…Fine structural studies on haemocyte coagulation in E. sinensis (Bauchau and De Brouwer, 1974) revealed instantaneous pseudopodia formation during the primary stages of clotting, accompanied by noticeable cytoplasmic changes. However, TEM observations of hyaline cells lacked pseudopodia in the freshwater crayfish Astacus astacus (Stang-Voss, 1971), C. sapidus (Bodammer, 1978) and penaeid shrimps (Vargas-Albores et al, 2005). The pseudopodial projections of Ag in the present study may possibly suggest that these cells may have a role in coagulation and phagocytosis.…”

“…In the present study, electron dense small and large type 1 granules dominated the cytoplasm of GI and GII, respectively. Comparable granular features were reported in SGH and LGH of H. americanus (Hearing andVernick, 1967), A. astacus (Stang-Voss, 1971), E. sinensis (Bauchau and De Brouwer, 1972), C. maenas (Johnston et al, 1973) and C. sapidus (Bodammer, 1978).…”

“…The unusual occurrence of binucleate Ag in T. schirnerae can be compared to the binucleate hyaline haemocytes of C. sapidus (Bodammer, 1978) and the dividing nucleus observed in the Ag of P. indicus (Laxmilatha, 1991). The binucleate condition observed here may be quite fortuitous and thorough investigations are required to explore their occurrence, frequency and physiological significance.…”

“…Vranckx and Durliat (1977) analyzed the circulating cells in a number of decapods. Bodammer (1978) and Clare and Lumb (1994) described the morphology, fine structure of haemopoietic tissue and haemocytes and phenoloxidase (PO) activity in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Tsing et al (1989) demonstrated the morphology, cytochemistry and haemograms of penaeid and palaemonid shrimps.…”