Phagocytosis of insect haemocytes as a new alternative model

Phagocytosis is an important function of both insect haemocytes and mammalian blood cells. Linden bugsand cotton leaf worms have been suggested as new alternative models for ecological and drug toxicology butno data on their haemocyte physiology have been published. Our assays with particle ingestion of the NBTtest were carried out on prohaemocytes, granulocytes, plasmatocytes and spherulocytes of adult linden bugand cotton leaf worm larvae. We found that phagocytic activity is on average 10% in the linden bug, and 50%in cotton leaf worm haemocytes: the phagocytic index is 3.5 in both species and nitroblue tetrazoliumreduction is 0.5 in the linden bug and 3.2 in the cotton leaf worm. Phagocytic charactersitics of theprohaemocytes and granulocytes in the cotton leaf worm are closed to mammalian neutrophil physiology. Ourdata suggest that cotton leaf worm haemocytes may be a new potential alternative model for screening ofphagocytosis.