title: Evidence for circulating hemocyte proliferation in the shrimp Penaeus japonicus.
abstract: We have observed by flow cytometric analysis that a small but consistent percentage of circulating hemocytes in phases S, G2 and M of the cell cycle can be detected in Penaeus japonicus. Significantly increased percentages of proliferating hemocytes (approximately three-fold increase) were observed after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), p43 (an immunosuppressive lymphocyte mitogenic protein produced by Candida albicans) and a combination of LPS and p43. Moreover, an approximately six-fold increase in the percentage of proliferating hemocytes was also observed in animals infected with Fusarlum opp., as compared to non-infected shrimps. Furthermore, [3H] thymidine uptake in circulating hemocytes was 26 times greater in LPS stimulated than in non-stimulated shrimps. The present study suggests that circulating hemocytes of the shrimp P. japonicus can divide in vivo and that proliferation can be increased significantly after mitogenic or infectious stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of General Physiology, Institute for Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arala-Chaves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005670:Fusarium / Q000254:growth & development; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000662:veterinary; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens