Summary
Coelomocytes of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Strongylocentrotus franciscanus include phagocytic leukocytes, flagellated “vibratile cells”, and two types of spherule-bearing cells; one of which contains echinochrome, a red naphthaquinone pigment. Vibratile cells are PAS positive and contain a strongly acidic mucopolysaccharide. Substances with similar staining and chemical properties appear in the coelomic fluid under certain stress conditions. It is supposed that these substances enter the fluid by diffusion from the vibratile cells. Tests indicate that both spherule-cell types, like the spherule cells of holothurians (sea cucumbers), may undergo a cycle during which they pass from a basophilic to an acidophilic state. Chemical properties of the spherule cells approximate those of vertebrate mast cells. The variability of staining and chemical reactions of spherule cells explains why published accounts of their properties have differed so widely. It is suggested that the properties of mucoid substances in invertebrate spherule-bearing cells may be as variable as is true of vertebrate mast cells.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnold, J. W., and E. H. Salkeld: Morphology of the haemocytes of the giant cockroach, Blaberus giganteus, with histochemical tests. Can. Entomologist 99, 1138–1145 (1967).
Ashhurst, D. E., and A. G. Richards: Some histochemical observations on the blood cells of the wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. J. Morph. 114, 247–253 (1964).
Boolootian, R. A., and A. C. Giese: Coelomic corpuscles of echinoderms. Biol. Bull. 115, 53–63 (1958).
—, and R. Lasker: Digestion of brown algae and the distribution of nutrients in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 11, 273–289 (1964).
Burton, M. P. M.: Echinoid coelomic cells. Nature (Lond.) 211, 1095–1096 (1966).
Cavanaugh, G. M. (ed.): Formulae and methods IV. of the marine biological laboratory chemical room. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., 1956.
Cowden, R. R.: Cytological and histochemical observations on connective tissue cells and cutaneous wound healing in the sea cucumber Stichopus badionotus. J. Invertebrate Path. 10, 151–159 (1968).
Cuénot, L.: Études physiologiques sur les Gastéropodes Pulmonés. Arch. Biol. (Liège) 12, 683–740 (1892).
Doyle, W. L., and G. F. McNiell: The fine structure of the respiratory tree in Cucumaria. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 105, 7–11 (1964).
Dumont, J. N., E. Anderson, and G. Winner: Some cytologic characteristics of the hemocytes of Limulus during clotting. J. Morph. 119, 181–208 (1966).
Endean, R.: The coelomocytes of Holothuria leucospilota. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 99, 47–60 (1958).
Gupta, A. P., and D. J. Sutherland: Phase contrast and histochemical studies of spherule cells in cockroaches (Dictyoptera). Ann. entomol. Soc. Amer. 60, 557–565 (1967).
Hetzel, H. R.: Studies on holothurian coelomocytes. I. A survey of coelomocyte types. Biol. Bull. 125, 289–301 (1963).
—: Studies on holothurian coelomocytes. II. The origin of coelomocytes and the formation of brown bodies. Biol. Bull. 128, 102–111 (1965).
Holland, N. D., and A. Nimitz: An autoradiographic and histochemical investigation of the gut mucopolysaccharides of the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus). Biol. Bull. 127, 280–293 (1964).
— J. H. Philipps, Jr., and A. C. Giese: An autoradiographic investigation of coelomocyte production in the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus). Biol. Bull. 128, 259–270 (1965).
Humason, G. L.: Animal tissue techniques. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman & Co. 1962.
Jensen, W. A.: Botanical histochemistry. Principles and practice. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman & Co. 1962.
Johnson, P. T.: The coelomic elements of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus). I. The normal coelomocytes; their morphology and dynamics in hanging drops. J. Invertebrate Path. (in press).
—, and R. J. Beeson: In vitro studies on Patiria miniata (Brandt) coelomocytes, with remarks on revolving cysts. Life Sci. 5, 1641–1666 (1966).
Kawamoto, N.: The anatomy of Caudina chilensis (J. Müller) with especial reference to the perivisceral cavity, the blood and the water vascular systems in their relation to the blood circulation. Tohoku Daigaku Sci. Repts., Ser. IV, 2 (3), 239–264 (1927).
Kindred, J. E.: A study of the genetic relationship of the “amebocytes with spherules” in Arbacia. Biol. Bull. 50, 147–154 (1926).
Kollmann, M.: Recherches sur les leucocytes et le tissue lymphoïde des Invertébrés. Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool., Sér. IX, 8, 1–240 (1908).
Lev, R., and A. Gerard: The histochemical demonstration of protein in epithelial mucins. J. roy. micr. Soc. 87, 361–373 (1967).
Liebman, E.: The trephocytes and their functions. Experientia (Basel) 3, 442–451 (1947).
Millott, N., and H. G. Vevers: The morphology and histochemistry of the echinoid axial organ. Phil. Trans. B. 253, 201–230 (1968).
Moss, M. L., and M. M. Meehan: Sutural connective tissues in the test of an echinoid Arbacia punctulata. Acta anat. (Basel) 66, 279–304 (1967).
Newcomer, E. H.: A new cytological and histological fixing fluid. Science 118, 161 (1953).
—: Feulgen staining of tissues prior to embedding and sectioning. Stain Technol. 34, 349–350 (1959).
Ohuye, T.: On the coelomic corpuscles in the body fluid of some invertebrates. I. Reaction of the leucocytes of a holothurid, Caudina chilensis (J. Müller), to vital dyes. Tohoku Daigaku Sci. Repts., Ser. IV, 9, 47–52 (1934).
—: On the coelomic corpuscles in the body fluid of some invertebrates. IV. On the coelomic corpuscles of a holothurid, Molpadia roretzii (V. Marenzeller) with reference to those of Caudina chilensis (J. Müller). Tohoku Daigaku Sci. Repts., Ser. IV, 11, 207–222 (1936 a).
—: On the coelomic corpuscles in the body fluid of some invertebrates. V. Reaction of the coelomic corpuscles of an echinid, Temnopleurus hardwickii (Gray), to vital dyes and some chemical reagents. Tohoku Daigaku Sci. Repts., Ser. IV, 11, 223–230 (1936 b).
—: On the coelomic corpuscles in the body fluid of some invertebrates. XI. Supplementary observations on the cytoplasmic inclusions of red coloured corpuscles in the blood of some marine invertebrates. Tohoku Diagaku Sci. Repts., Ser. IV, 12, 623–628 (1938).
Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry-thoretical and applied. 2nd edit. Boston: Little, Brown & Co. 1960.
Rollefsen, I.: Studies on the mast cell-like morula cells of the holothurian Stichopus tremulus (Gun.). Arbok Univ. Bergen, mat.-nat. Ser., 8, 3–12 (1965).
Schinke, H.: Bildung und Ersatz der Zellelemente der Leibeshöhlenflüssigkeit von Psammechinus miliaris (Echinoidea). Z. Zellforsch. 35, 311–331 (1950).
Spicer, S. S.: A correlative study of the histochemical properties of rodent acid mucopolysaccharides. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 8, 18–36 (1960).
—: Histochemical differentiation of mammalian mucopolysaccharides. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 106, 379–388 (1963).
Szirmai, J. A.: Quantitative approaches in the histochemistry of mucopolysaccharides. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 11, 24–34 (1963).
Tomasi, J. A. de: Improving the technic of the Fuelgen stain. Stain Technol. 11, 137–144 (1936).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This investigation was supported by Public Health Service Research Grant No. 5358 (to E. A. Steinhaus) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Johnson, P.T. The coelomic elements of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus). Histochemie 17, 213–231 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309866
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309866