IN VITRO AND IN VIVO RESPONSES OF CIRCULATING AND FIXED HEMOCYTES IN THE APPLE SNAIL Pomacea canaliculata (ARCHITAENIOGLOSSA, AMPULLARIIDAE)

CUETO, J.A,; CASTRO VAZQUEZ, A

Tucuman

Workshop; IVth International Workshop “Biology of Ampullariidae” POMACEA 2010.; 2010

Hemocytes are the cellular component of the invertebrate immune system. In molluscs, hemocyte functions include either invaders’ recognition and phagocytosis or capsule formation around them. In addition to the defense function, haemocytes carry on a variety of other important functions such as hemostasis and wound healing, shell formation and repair, nutrient digestion and excretion. Also, hemocyte activities are apparently regulated by a variety of vertebrate-like cytokines and hormones.