ABSTRACT
Although lacking classical immunoglobulins, Mercenaria hemolymph contains various humoral factors that mimic the functions of antibodies. Invertebrates frequently have measurable amounts of lysozyme in their body fluids, mucus, hemocytes, and other tissues. The method for the determination of Glycera bacterial agglutinin was identical to that for Mercenaria. The only other data concerning hemolytic activity in Mercenaria were presented by H. A. Graham, who also found a heat-sensitive, naturally occurring hemolysin with broad specificity in both hemolymph and shell liquor. The ability of clams in flow-through systems to clear a standard dose of injected marine Flavobacterium. Pollutant exposure studies in this laboratory were carried out at 12°C in marine aquaria with 30 gal of recirculated artificial sea water. In addition to hemolytic and bactericidal action, Glycera coelomic fluid exhibits cytotoxic activity against cells from a great diversity of animals. In clams, pollutant exposure increases the incidence of Polydora infestation, alters hemocyte phagocytic capacity, and reduces hemocyte count due to selective cytolysis.
