Structural and functional features of cells from the sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup 1858) immune system. (B169)

Abstract

Abstract During last years, the severe decrease of fishing resources has impulsed the growing of aquaculture with the necessary diversification of production species. The sole, Solea senegalensis Kaup 1858, is a high-value flatfish reared in intensive aquaculture production in Southern Europe, but no studies on the sole immune system cells have been conducted. The knowledge on healthy immune cells will be useful for diagnosis purposes in pathologies associated to changes in these cells. This study reports a morphological study (light and electron microscopy) of the sole mature immune cells from blood, head-kidney and spleen, the characterization of the different haemopoietic stages, and two innate immune responses of these mature cells were. Phagocytic capacity was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the respiratory burst activity was evaluated by a chemiluminescence method. Sole blood, head-kidney and spleen leukocytes were isolated and analysed by flow cytometry showing the existence of three main cell subpopulations. Heterophilic and acidophilic granulocytes, macrophages and thrombocytes from the different studied tissues showed phagocytic capacity engulfing up to 4 yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisae). The head-kidney leukocytes respiratory burst response showed a slope of 4836 ± 414.