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Ultrastructure and X‐Ray Microanalysis of Blood Cells of Ascidia malaca
Author(s) -
Scippa Silvia,
Botte Lucio,
Vincentiis Mario
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.1982.tb00767.x
Subject(s) - ultrastructure , biology , cytoplasm , microanalysis , vanadium , electron microscope , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , chemistry , organic chemistry , inorganic chemistry , physics , optics
Ultrastructural studies of Ascidia malaca blood reveal particular cell types, which are characterized by a polymorphism in the organization of the electron dense cytoplasmic material. A new pathway of morula cell differentiation is suggested. X‐ray microanalysis shows that vanadium is localized in vacuolated, granular and morular cells. Iron, which is accumulated by this species to a lesser degree than vanadium, is found in vacuolated amebocytes and, together with vanadium, in granular cells. Our results are discussed in the light of the relations between selective metal absorption in blood cells and their specialization and differentiation.