Morphological, structural, and functional characterization of the haemocytes of the scallop, Argopecten irradians

Argopecten irradians is one of the most important commercial species of Pectinidae family in China. The internal defense system of mollusks consists of circulating haemocytes. In order to characterize the haemocytes of the scallop A. irradians, light and electron microscopical studies were carried out. Four types of haemocytes were recognized: type I small hyalinocytes (2.38 ± 0.08 μm, 30–35%), type II large hyalinocytes (4.41 ± 0.33 μm, 15–20%), type III small granulocytes (4.15 ± 0.26 μm, 20–25%), and type IV large granulocytes (8.26 ± 0.52 μm, 25–30%). Granulocyte types showed smaller N/C ratios than hyalinocytes. The mean haemocyte concentration was about (3.75 ± 0.65) × 107 cells ml− 1 of haemolymph. Among haemocytes, 44.7% are granular and 55.3% are agranular. These gave a relatively systematic classification scheme for haemocytes of A. irradians. Three types of granules were identified: type I, with high electron-density; type II, with low electron-density; and type III, with a middle level of electron-density, based on TEM studies. Different haemocyte types were not separated with DDGC of Percoll in this study. Both granulocytes and hyalinocytes showed a phagocytic response to the two strains of bacteria, Escherichia coli and RLOs. The phagocytic ability of granulocyte was significantly higher (41–48%) than that of hyalinocyte (9.2–11.2%).