Biological and Applied Sciences

• Published in: Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 287 - 294
• Main Authors: Ângela Maria Ferreira Falleiros, Maria Terezinha Siqueira Bombonato, Elisa Aparecida Gregório
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto de Tecnologia do Paraná (Tecpar) 01-03-2003
• Subjects: Differential Hemocyte Count; Hemocytes; Insect; Lepidoptera; Morphometry; Ultrastructural Morphology
• ISSN: 1678-4324
• DOI: 10.1590/S1516-89132003000200021

Six circulating hemocytes cell types from Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae were identified by transmission and scanning electron microscope: prohemocytes (PR), plasmatocytes (PL) granulocytes (GR), spherulocytes (SP), oenocytoids (OE) and vermicytes (VE). The PR was the smallest cell type with a large nucleus, a cytoplasm with few organelles and a homogenous smooth surface. The PL was polymorphic and abundant, with a cytoplasm rich in organelles and a cellular surface with several cytoplasmic projections. The GR was abundant, showing two types of membrane-bounded granules (dense and structutered), glycogen, lipid droplets and a surface with philopodial projections. The SP was a large cell, with a cytoplasm full of intracytoplasmic spherules. The OE was the largest hemocyte type with a large and homogeneous cytoplasm and scarce organelles. The VE was discoid in shape and showed electron-dense granules.