Effects of repeated hemolymph withdrawals on the hemocyte populations and hematopoiesis in Pomacea canaliculata

Pomacea canaliculata is a freshwater gastropod considered an invasive pest by several European, North American and Asiatic countries. This snail presents a considerable resistance to pollutants and may successfully face stressful events. Thanks to the unusual possibility to perform several hemolymph collections without affecting its survival, P. canaliculata is a good model to study the hematopoietic process and the hemocyte turnover in molluscs. Here we have analyzed the effects of repeated hemolymph withdrawals on circulating hemocyte populations and pericardial organs, i.e., the heart, the main vessels entering and leaving the heart and the ampulla, of P. canaliculata. Our experiments revealed that the circulating hemocyte populations were maintained constant after 3 collections performed in 48 h. The tissue organization of the heart and the vessels remained unaltered, whereas the ampulla buffered the effects of hemolymph collections acting as hemocyte reservoir, and its original organization was progressively lost by the repeated hemolymph withdrawals. The hematopoietic tissue of P. canaliculata was evidenced here for the first time. It is positioned within the pericardial cavity, in correspondence of the principle veins. Mitoses within the hematopoietic tissue were not influenced by hemolymph collections, and circulating hemocytes never presented mitotic activity.