LUMINOL-DEPENDENT CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF HEMOCYTES DERIVED FROM MARINE AND ESTUARINE MOLLUSKS

Hemocytes of two marine molluscs, Nerita albicilla (gastropod) and Myt ilus edulis (bivalve), were stimulated in vitro with zymosan and live cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli as determined by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL). The CL response was enhance d in the presence of the respective molluscan plasma. Hemocytes of an estuarine gastropod, Clithon retropictus, showed low CL response to zy mosan and V. parahaemolyticus, which was slightly enhanced in the pres ence of C retropictus plasma. Hemocytes of an estuarine bivalve, Corbi cula japonica, showed no CL response. CL response of hemocytes might b e a useful tool to analyze defense mechanisms of estuarine molluscs.