Cellular elements within the blood of the Newfoundland bait squid Illex illecebrosus (Lesueur, 1821) (Cephalopoda: Coleoidea) : a study in functional morphology

Way, Florence Elizabeth (1975) Cellular elements within the blood of the Newfoundland bait squid Illex illecebrosus (Lesueur, 1821) (Cephalopoda: Coleoidea) : a study in functional morphology. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The oegopsid squid Illex illecebrosus was selected for consideration by reason of the limited knowledge which surrounds the cellular elements of its blood and the potential significance these answers might have on its unique phylogeny. -- Standard blood smear preparations were utilized to define a working image of those elements, later to be described as eosinophilic granulocytes. Incorporated within this study was the application of Villanueva stain which, having imparted greater contrast between nucleus and cytoplasm, made microvideomat analysis possible. Relationships between selected nuclear configurations and their areas, selected nuclear configurations and the associated cytoplasmic areas, and thirdly, between the nuclear and cytoplasmic areas were derived from such data. -- Living preparations stained supravitally provided correlative information as to the nature and/or presence of cell organelles observed at the levels of light and electron microscopy. -- Experiments were devised to establish the existence of a phagocytic mechanism and, if successful, the optimum concentration of carmine solution necessary to ellicit such a response. Favorable results prompted additional studies implemented with time-lapse photography. The functional aspects of amoeboid movement and agglutination were elucidated by these means. -- Further investigation employing electron microscopy thus completed this initial inquiry into the nature of cellular elements within the blood of the Newfoundland bait squid. -- Data compiled from the foregoing research methods indicate that these circulating cells are eosinophilic granulocytes. The prominent nucleus which may assume one of six different configurations exhibits fine structure typical of mammalian organization, as do the other organelles. Mitochondria, granular endoplasmic reticulum, multivesicular bodies, vacuoles, pinocytic vesicles, and entities resembling lysosomes constitute the normal array of cellular components. Dispersed ribosomes are present as well. The possible role of multivesicular bodies in the pinocytic process are noted. -- The ability of these leucocytes to phagocytize foreign material and to attain different positions or locations by means of amoeboid movement were verified through time-lapse photography.

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