STUDIES ON ANTHERAEA MYLITTA DRURY HEMOCYTES DURING 3RD, 4TH LARVAL AND PUPAL STAGES

SOUVENIR AND BOOK OF ABSTRACTS, 4^TH InTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NEA (ICAIECS), NOVEMBER 2012, 95.

STUDIES ON ANTHERAEA MYLITTA DRURY HEMOCYTES DURING 3RD, 4TH LARVAL AND PUPAL STAGES

MANOJ KUMAR and AMITABH HORE

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, 

RANCHI UNIVERSITY, RANCHI

EMAIL: eaddress.manojkumar@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Types of percentage occurrence of haemocytes in the blood lymph of Antheraea mylitta, have been studied using routine histological techniques through different larval and pupal stages. Blood smear from the proleg attatched to 7th abdominal segment shows the presence of five types of haemocytes namely:

1.      Prohemocytes (PRs)

2.      Plasmatocytes (PLs)

3.      Granulocytes (GRs)

4.      Spherulocytes (SPs)

5.      Oenocytoids (OEs)

The size and percentage of these hemocytes varied from stage to stage.

1.      GRs were prominent in pupal stages and disappeared during the wandering stage.

2.      Haemocyte titer decreased at pupation and declined after pupation.

3.      PLs were most abundant in pupal stages.

4.      OEs and SPs disappeared in wandering stages.

Histological observations revealed that PRS were round in shape and smaller than other haemocyte types and characterized by light purple staining of cytoplasm with Giemsa stain and a low concentration of granules in their cytoplasm. PRs measured 8.500 to 18.063 µm diameter and their nuclei, which stained in deep purple colour in Giemsa stain, were relatively large in comparison with other types. OEs were characterized by their spherical or ellipsoidal shape, large amount of cytoplasm and small nuclei. The mean length of larger axis was 21.548 ± 1.322 µm and smaller axis was 19.975 ± 1.344. The cytoplasm stained little yellowish red in Giemsa stain. PLs were round to elliptical in shape. Several fusiform PLs were also observed. The longer axis of elliptical forms ranged from 12.750 ± 23.375 µm and in fusiform cells it varied in between 17.00 to 34.00 µm. SPs were round to oval in shape. The longer axis of SPs from 12.750 ± 29.75 µm. and smaller axis ranged from 4.250 to 12.750 µm. The shape of the nucleus was irregular. GRs were recognized as spherical or oval shaped haemocytes, which varied considerably in size, the long axis of GRs ranged in between 12.750 to 25.500 µm. The short axis ranged between 8.500 to 23.375 µm. The cytoplasm had numerous vaclular bodies distributed around the nucleus. The nucleus stained deep purple and was irregular in shape. Densely dispersed cytoplasmic inclusions clearly distinguish GRs from other haemocytes. Probable involvement of these suspended cells in blood plasma in cellular defense, tissue repair and for transport and synthesis of nutrient and hormones has been discussed.

Keywords: Antheraea mylitta, Prohemocytes, Plasmatocytes, Spherulocytes, Granulocytes, Oenocytoids