Recognition of foreignness by blood cells of the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis, with special reference to the role and structure of the cell coat

Abstract The structure and function of the cell coat of the blood cells (amoebocytes) of the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis were studied with ultrahistochemical tests, including concanavalin A (Con A) labeling, and with in vitro phagocytosis experiments. The cell coat is intensely stained by ruthenium red and tannic acid. The cells possess binding sites for Con A. Proteolytic enzymes destroy the receptors for Con A and totally inhibit the phagocytic activity of amoebocytes. Incubation experiments with proteases, carbohydrases, and inhibition sugars revealed that (1) the Con A binding sites are anchored in the plasma membrane by proteins, and (2) glucose, fructose, mannose, and to a lesser extent N -acetylglucosamine and N -acetylgalactosamine, inhibit the binding of Con A to amoebocytes, suggesting that these carbohydrates might form part of these binding sites.