Serological studies on the crawfish (Cambarus clarkii) On the cellular reaction in an epithelial membrane under the wastocardiac region of its shell

Abstract

Studies are made of the crawfish (Cambarus clarkii) as to the epithelial membranous tissuses of the shell with special reference to the gastrocardiac region.
The epithelial membrane in this region contains vessel-like tissues and grouped globulous cells communicated with these tissues. The globulous cells, being 150-190μ in diameter, mostly spherical and occasionally irregular in shape, are 30 in number on an average. They attach to the apex where vessl-like tissues are arbolized or to the lateral well. They show an active proliferative reaction in response to antigenic substances administerd. The proliferated cells are differentiated into those of the same kind as blood cells. It is assumed that the epithelial tissues which contain the above globulous cells constitute a main hematopoietic organ of this animal.