Temperature and ganglionectomy stresses affect haemocyte counts in plain tiger butterfly, Danois chrysippus L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Abstract

Total and differential haemocyte counts following chilling, heating and ganglionectomy were studied in fifth instar larvae of Danois chrysippus. Chilling caused a decline in the number of haemocytes reaching a lowest level of about 57% in 48 h old larvae. Heating on the other hand elicited an increase of blood cells up to 30-50%. The ganglionectomy up to second abdominal ganglion caused a gradual reduction in total haemocyte count up to 93%. The relative percentage of different haemocyte types showed much variation. While prohaemocyte percentage increased both after heating and ganglionectomy but decreased after chilling; the percentage of plasmatocytes on the other hand declined in all experimental stages. The other cell types viz., granulocytes, spherulocytes, adipohaemocytes and oenocytoids also showed some variation in their counts. In addition, the aforesaid stresses adversely affected the structure of haemocytes causing their vacuolization, breaking of plasma membrane and fragmentation of nucleus and cell organelles leading to cell death. These stresses are thought to affect haemocytes through Median Neurosecretory Cells (MNSCs) mediated hormonal disturbance. © 2008 Academic Journals Inc.