Carbohydrate Moieties and Cytoenzymatic Characterization of Hemocytes in Whiteleg ShrimpLitopenaeus vannamei.
Hemocytes represent one of the most important defense mechanisms against foreign material in Crustacea and are also involved in a variety of other physiological responses. Fluorescent lectin-binding assays and cytochemical reactions were used to identify specificity and distribution of carbohydrate moieties and presence of several hydrolytic enzymes, in hemocytes of whiteleg shrimpLitopenaeus vannamei. Two general classes of circulating hemocytes (granular and agranular) exist inL. vannamei, which express carbohydrates residues for FITC-conjugated lectins WGA, LEA, and PNA; UEA and Con-A were not observed. Enzymatic studies indicated that acid phosphatase, nonspecific esterase, and specific esterases were present; alkaline phosphatase was not observed. The enzymes and carbohydrates are useful tools in hemocyte classification and cellular defense mechanism studies.
Programa Cátedras CONACyT, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. (CIBNOR), 23090 La Paz, BCS, Mexico.
Norma
0000-0003-4254-9627
N
Estrada
Laboratorio de Patogénesis Microbiana, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C., 23090 La Paz, BCS, Mexico.
Edwin
E
Velázquez
Laboratorio de Histología e Histoquímica, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C., 23090 La Paz, BCS, Mexico.
Carmen
C
Rodríguez-Jaramillo
Laboratorio de Patogénesis Microbiana, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C., 23090 La Paz, BCS, Mexico.
Felipe
F
Ascencio