Colocalization of heparin and histamine in the intracellular granules of test cells from the invertebrate Styela plicata (Chordata-Tunicata)

In most ascidian species the oocytes are surrounded by two types of accessory cells called follicle cells and test cells. Test cells are located on the periphery of oocytes and remain in the perivitelline space during egg development until hatching. Heparin and histamine were previously described in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of structural biology 2002-03, Vol.137 (3), p.313-321
Main Authors: Cavalcante, Moisés C.M., de Andrade, Leonardo R., Du Bocage Santos-Pinto, Claudia, Straus, Anita H., Takahashi, Hélio K., Allodi, Silvana, Pavão, Mauro S.G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Ascidian test cells
Cell Degranulation - drug effects
Cytoplasmic Granules - chemistry
Cytoplasmic Granules - drug effects
Cytoplasmic Granules - ultrastructure
Heparin
Heparin - analysis
Histamine
Histamine - analysis
Immunocytochemistry
Mast cells
Ovum - chemistry
Ovum - cytology
p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine - pharmacology
Styela plicata
Ultrastructure
Urochordata - chemistry
Urochordata - cytology
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Summary:In most ascidian species the oocytes are surrounded by two types of accessory cells called follicle cells and test cells. Test cells are located on the periphery of oocytes and remain in the perivitelline space during egg development until hatching. Heparin and histamine were previously described in the test cells of the ascidian Styela plicata. In the present study, electron microscopy techniques were used to characterize the ultrastructure of the S. plicata test cells and to localize heparin and histamine in these cells. Test cells contain several intracellular granules with unique ultrastructural features. They are formed by elongated filaments composed of serial globules with an electron-lucent circle, containing a central electron-dense spot. Immunocytochemistry showed that heparin and histamine colocalize at the border of granule filaments in the test cell. Compound 48/80, a potent secretagogue of heparin-containing mast cells, also induced degranulation of test cells. According to these results, we suggest that test cells represent ancient effector cells of the innate immunity in primitive chordates.
ISSN:1047-8477
1095-8657
DOI:10.1016/S1047-8477(02)00007-2