한국산 바지락(Ruditapes philippinarum) 혈구에 의한 생체 방어 기작의 과정을 이해하기 위해 혈구의 분류와 혈구의 계절적 변동을 조사하였다. 바지락은 1998년 6월부터 1년간 전북 고창군 줄포만에서 채집하여 실험에 사용하였다. 후패각근에서 채혈한 혈구를 형태학적 관찰과 탐식능을 조사한 결과 과립을 가진 호염기성과립구, 호산성과립구 그리고 노쇠한 세포인 fibrocyte의 3종류와 과립이 없는 무과립구로 구분되었다. 초미세구조의 관찰에 의한 과립구의 특징으로는 전자밀도가 높은 공포가 무과립구보다 훨씬 많았다. 무과립구는 작은 액상 공포가 세포질내에 산재해 있었다. 광학현미경적 식작용 관찰에서는 zymosan을 탐식한 혈구의 핵은 세포질의 가장 자리로 편재되었으며 식작용 비율에서는 호산성과립구가 호염기성과립구보다 높은 비율을 나타내었고 무과립구는 거의 탐식하지 않았다. 월별 혈구수에서 총혈구수는 4~7월이 많았으며 10~12월에 적게 나타났다. 각 혈구수의 조성은 호염기성과립구가 50-60%로 가장 높았고 호산성과립구는 25-40%, 무과립구는 10-20%의 순으로 나타났다.
To understand host-defence mechanism of clam(Ruditapes philippinarum) hemocyte against foreign materials, classification and their seasonal change in the number were performed. clams collected from a farm in Julpo Bay, Gochang, Chollabuk-Do were used in this experiment. Lots of hemocytes were found between the muscle fibers and connetive tissue of posterior adductor muscle. Hemocytes of R. philippinarum were classified into granulocytes and agranulocytes. Granulocytes were composed of three types, basophilic granulocyte, acidophilic granulocyte and fibrocyte in accordance with the staining affinities of their cytoplasmic granules. Fibrocyte has filopodia and vesicle in endoplasm and bigger than other granulocytes in size. Agranulocytes were less in the number and smaller in the size compared to those of granulocytes. Hyalinocytes had no granule in their cytoplasm. The nucleus located in the center of the cell was oval or spherical shaped. In electron microscopic observation, granulocytes and hyalinocytes contained electron-dense vesicles and some small lucid vesicles in their cytoplasm, respectively. Granulocytes phagocytosed more zymosan particles than hyalinocytes. Acidophilic granulocytes showed higher phagocytic ratio than basophilic granulocytes. Total hemocyte numbers showed the highest at April to August and the lowest at October to December. In the composition of each hemocyte, basophilic granulocytes were always more than acidophilic granulocytes and hyalinocytes.
