Scanning electron-microscopic study of the involvement of coelomic cells in earthworm antibacterial defense

摘要: The first steps of an antibacterial reaction in the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei were investigated. main cellular mediators this activity are chloragocytes, a class free coelomocytes existing only annelids. Our observations using scanning electron microscopy have shown that chloragocytes able to agglutinate and perhaps destroy pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus megaterium same way they lyse vertebrate erythrocytes. Bacteria known be non-pathogenic for worm, Acinetobacter, not agglutinated but slowly eliminated by segregation into brown bodies. Chloragocytes maintained vitro, lost their chloragosomes exhibited stronger agglutination against than situ. From increased efficiency we infer that, normal living conditions, probably intervene defense mainly after extrusion from coelomic cavity spreading degranulation at surface integument.