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Some of the cytological and histochemical characteristics of hemocytes of Thyropygus poseidon were studied. Jone's system of classification of hemocytes was extended to millipede hemocytes. Seven classes were identified as prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular hemocytes, cytocytes, oenocytoids, spherule cells and adipohemocytes. Oenocytoids were rarely found. All cells except prohemocytes and oenocytoids sequestered oxidized products of catechol. Results of the histochemical tests for proteins also suggest that these cells sequester plasma proteins. Cytocytes do not bring about any visible coagulation similar to the hemocytes of some hemipteran insects. Granular hemocytes contain phenol-oxidase capable of oxidising tyrosine as well as catechol, similar to the hemocytes of crustaceans. In this respect millipede hemocytes differ from insect hemocytes. It is suggested that these cell types may represent distinct cell lines and may not represent transformation of one cell type to another.

The suitability of micro-Kjeldahl, biuret and Folin-Ciocalteu methods of protein determination in analysing the haemolymph protein concentration of Scylla serrata was assessed. It was found that biuret method is simple, reliable and the results are consistent.Intra-individual factor as a function of time of day is also responsible for individual variability in the haemolymph protein concentration of the crab.

Gangliosides, the glycosphingolipids containing sialic acids, are fundamental constituents of vertebrate cells [1]. Gangliosides are located on the cell membrane, with the carbohydrate moiety exposed outside the cell surface and the lipid portion embedded in the bilayer lipid membrane. Gangliosides are most abundant in neural tissues but are also found in small quantities in other cells [2, 3]. Many different types of gangliosides have been identified in human tissues. The ganglioside composition differs among different normal tissues as well as among different forms of cancers.

Some of the cytological characteristics of the hemocytes of the scorpion, Palamnaeus swammerdami, were studied. The morphological features of the arachnid hemocytes were observed to be similar to those of hemocytes of insects, millipedes and isopods. Jones' system of hemocyte classification was extended to the arachnid hemocytes. The six classes of hemocytes indentified in the scorpion correspond to prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular hemoocytes, cystocytes, spherule cells and adipohemocytes of insects. A cell type comparable to oenocytoids of insects and crustaceans is absent. The prohemocytes can be subdivided into four categories that probably represent the precursors of the major cell types. The cytological characteristics of the major cell classes and the occurrence of the miniatures of some of these major cell types support the concept of Jones (62) that these cell types might have different cell lineages and might not be capable of transforming into one another. Some of the prohemocytes, plasmatocytes and granular hemocytes were amoeboid. The nature of the granules and the vacuoles of plasmatocytes and granular hemocytes were compared with the granules and vacuoles of corresponding hemocytes of other arthropods. Cystocytes did not bring about any visible coagulation similar to their counterparts in millipedes and crustaceans. Plasmatocytes, granular hemocytes and spherule cells were observed to occur in conglomerates. The cell types noted in the present study were compared with the hemocytes of other arachnids.

The morphological features of the hemocytes of the crustacean Ligia exotica are similar to hemocytes of insects and millipedes. Jones system of hemocyte classification is extended to crustacean hemocytes. As in insects, seven classes of hemocytes, identified as prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular hemocytes, cystocytes, oenocytoids, spherule cells and adipohemocytes, occur. The prohemocytes can be subdivided into five categories that probably represent the precursor of major cell types. The structural and chemical features of other major cell classes are distinct and support the concept of Jones ('62) that these types might have different lineages and might not be capable of transforming into one another. Some of the prohemocytes, plasmatocytes and granular hemocytes are amoeboid. Cystocytes do not bring about any visible plasma coagulation similar to their counterpart in millipedes. Oneocytoids and adipohemocytes are rare. Plasmatocytes, cystocytes and oenocytoids occur in conglomerates, the significance of which is discussed. The cell types are compared with those of the hemocytes of other crustaceans. It is suggested that the nomenclature based on morphological characters is more suited for crustacean hemocytes than a nomenclature based on behavioural and physiological characters.

Publisher Summary The blood or hemolymph of the Californian coastal crab Cancer antennarius Stimpson contains a sialic acid-specific lectin with high affinity for 9- O -acetyl- and 4-O-acetyl- N -acetylneuraminic acids. This chapter describes a method of purification using bovine submaxillary mucin-Sepharose as an affinity absorbent. There is also a description of the properties of the lectin. The activity of the crab lectin is assayed by measuring its ability to agglutinate horse (rat or mouse) erythrocytes. The assay is done by the conventional procedure of serial 2-fold dilution of the lectin on microtiter plates and visual estimation of erythrocyte agglutination l hr after adding the cells. The crab lectin is purified using an affinity adsorbent of bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) coupled to Sepharose because the lactin exhibits high binding affinity for the O-acetylated sialic acids in BSM.

1. The hemocytes of Emerita asiatica have been studied in fresh preparations by phase contrast microscopy and also after staining.2. With phase contrast microscopy, the following categories of hemocytes can be identified: (a) nondividing prohemocytes, (b) pleomorphic plasmatocytes, (c) intact and altering granular hemocytes, (d) quickly lysing cystocytes, (e) intact spherule cells, and (f) adipohemocytes.3. This classification and terminology solve a long standing confusion in the nomenclature of hemocytes of decapods and enable comparisons between the different hemocyte types of crustaceans and the hemocyte types of other arthropods to be made.4. Cystocytes and granular hemocytes constitute more than 95% of the hemocytes.5. In thin wet films, the granular hemocytes undergo alterations which include loss of shape, refractility and granules, followed by vacuolization and disintegration leading to agglutination of the cells.6. The alterations of the granular hemocytes are temperature-dependent, and lowering...

The histochemical and phase contrast observations on the embryonic envelopes enclosing the acanthor of Acanthosentis sp. reveal the presence of three layers. All the three layers were non-refractile during early stages of their formation, and become refringent subsequently. The outer layer loses its refractile property together with affinity for acid and basic dyes when the eggs are fully developed. This layer is neither tanned nor chitinous. The second layer consists of glyco-lipo-proteinous matrix. The polysaccharide moiety is identified to be strongly sulfated acid mucopolysaccharide. The lipid component has been characterized to be KOH resistant and esters of unsaturated fatty acid. The protein is rich in aromatic amino acids. The third and the innermost layer contains chitin and acid mucopolysaccharides. The protein is rich in sulfur-containing amino acids. Sulphydryl groups were present during early stages of its formation, but forms disulphide cross-links subsequently. Stages in the development of acanthors were characterized with reference to the formation of envelopes. The permeability experiments carried out on fresh eggs using 0.1% aqueous solutions of bromophenol blue, methylene blue, toluidine blue, basic fuchsin and neutral red indicate that the inward diffusion of these substances is prevented subsequent to formation of disulphide groups in the innermost layer. The results further indicate that the embryo derives nutritive requirements from the fluid of pseudocoel of the female worm through the envelopes covering it.

InScylla serrata, the haemolymph free calcium and bound calcium showed fluctuations during the different hours of the day. Whenever bound calcium decreased or increased in the haemolymph, the free calcium increased or decreased respectively; the significance of this is discussed. Besides, the suitability and reliability of Webster's chloranilic acid method, compared with other methods for the determination of haemolymph free and bound calcium, are empirically assessed.

InScylla serrata, haemolymph copper is bound to protein and it can be more reliably determined by the 2,2′ biquinoline method than by other spectrophotometric methods. Ionic or free copper is absent from the haemolymph. The lack of significant time-of-day variation in copper concentration and the occurrence of variation in total protein concentration and copper-protein ratio, indicate fluctuations in copper-free proteins, which may either be periodically sequestered or released by the tissues during different hours of the day.