Abstract
To study the role of lectins in the defence system of the snailLymnaea stagnalis, saccharides were tested for their capacity to inhibit plasma-mediated haemagglutination of trypsinised and fixed mouse red blood cells (M-rbc) and fixed rabbit red blood cells (R-rbc).d-Arabinose,N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucoidan andd-melezitose were good agglutination inhibitors using both types of rbc.d-Fructose, however, stimulated haemagglutination. Based on these results, in vitro phagocytosis assays were performed withd-arabinose (an agglutination inhibitor) andd-fructose (an agglutination stimulator). In co-incubation experiments both sugars inhibited adherence and phagocytosis of M-rbc in a concentration-dependent manner. Adherence and phagocytosis of R-rbc was stimulated at the lowest concentrations of D-arabinose and most concentrations ofd-fructose. Preincubation experiments showed decreased adherence and phagocytosis after preincubation of M-rbc with either sugar. Adherence and phagocytosis of R-rbc was reduced after preincubation of haemocytes withd-fructose. Preincubation of R-rbc had little effect. Our results support former studies indicating the presence of lectins both in the snail plasma and on the haemocytes.
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Horák, P., Neeleman, A.P., van der Knaap, W.P.W. et al. Effect of saccharides on plasma mediated haemagglutination and in vitro phagocytosis by haemocytes of the snailLymnaea stagnalis . Comparative Haematology International 8, 43–49 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02628104
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02628104