US EPA

543466 

Journal Article 

Kinetics of nonself surface adhesion and phagocytic response of hemocytes of Scylla serrata exposed to sodium arsenite 

Saha, S; Ray, M; Ray, S 

2008 

15 

1 

15-19 

Edible mud crab Scylla sarrala (Crustacea : Decapoda) is an economically important species. Hemocytes - the blood cells of the species perform diverse immunological functions including nonself recognition and phagocytosis of nonself particles. Kinetics of nonself surface (glass) adhesion of hemocytes was determined under the exposure of 1, 2, 3 ppm of sodium arsenite in diverse span of exposure i.e. 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours in controlled laboratory condition. Shifts in kinetics of adhesion were recorded against all the concentration screened. However, the patterns of shift were not uniform. Arsenic induced shift in surface adhesion of hemocytes indicated a state of immunological stress in the species. Phagocytosis of nonself particulates is considered as a classical immunological response in crab. We have examined phagocytosis of yeast (Saccharomyces carevisiae) by hemocytes of animal exposed to 1, 2 and 3 ppm of sodium arsenite for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours in vitro. Alteration in phagocytic response and adhesion of hemocytes is suggestive of cellular stress which may lead to decline in population of S. serrata in arsenic affected districts of West Bengal.