NUCLEAR MICROSCOPE ANALYSIS OF BLOOD-CELLS FROM THE TROPICAL ASCIDIANPHALLUSIA-PHILIPPINENSIS

The present study examines the concentrations of vanadium, bromine and sulphur contained within cryofixed/freeze dried blood cells of the as cidian Phallusia philippinensis (Millar, 1975). Elemental profiles of seven cell types were obtained using the National University of Singap ore nuclear microscope. Morula cells were found to contain the followi ng mean values; 0.8% vanadium, 3.5% bromine and 6.1% sulphur. Signer r ing cells contained 0.5% vanadium, 2.4% bromine and 1.5% sulphur. Comp artment cells had 0.1% vanadium, 2.1% bromine and 2.4% sulphur. Other less abundant cell types such as lymphocytes, macrogranular amoebocyte s, carotenoid pigment cells and granular amoebocytes were also analyse d and found to contain 0.4%, 0.7%, 0.2% and 1.0% vanadium, 2.0%, 1.6%, 0.6% and 1.2% bromine and 1.3%, 1.5%, 0.3% and 4.3% sulphur respectiv ely. Sulphur occurred in high levels in all cell types, which could in dicate its involvement in the vanadium concentration process, while br omine, incorporated into complexes, may be utilised for anti-fouling r ather than as a deterrent to predators.