Comparative form and function of oyster Crassostrea virginica hemocytes from Chesapeake Bay (Virginia) and Apalachicola Bay (Florida)

• Published in: Diseases of aquatic organisms 1995, Vol.22 (3), p.217-225
• Main Authors: OLIVER, L. M, FISHER, W. S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Crassostrea virginica; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invertebrates; Marine; Mollusca; Perkinsus marinus; Physiology. Development
• ISSN: 0177-5103; 1616-1580
• DOI: 10.3354/dao022217

Oysters Crassostrea virginica from Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, and Apalachicola Bay, Florida, USA, were collected in March and October 1992 to investigate possible differences in defense-related hemocyte activities between individuals from geographically separate populations. In March, hemolymph drawn from Chesapeake Bay oysters contained an average of 1.08 x 10 super(6) hemocytes/m hemolymph, significantly lower than the average 1.63 x 10 super(6) hemocytes/ml hemolymph obtained from Apalachicola Bay oysters. Hemocyte number did not differ significantly in the October comparison. At both times of year, Chesapeake Bay oyster hemolymph samples contained significantly greater proportions of granular hemocytes compared to Apalachicola Bay hemolymph samples. Hemocyte samples from Chesapeake Bay oysters demonstrated a higher percentage of mobile hemocytes and greater particle binding ability than Apalachicola Bay oyster hemocytes when tested in March, but the reverse was found in the October experiments. Chesapeake Bay oyster hemocytes produced significantly more superoxide anion as measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction than did Apalachicola Bay oyster hemocytes in both March and October. Oyster hemolymph levels of the protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus did not differ significantly between the 2 sites at either time of year. These results demonstrate the importance of background studies to characterize site-specific differences in oyster hemocyte defense-related functions.