embryonic/larval plasmatocyte [FBbt_00001685]

embryonic/larval plasmatocyte

ID: FBbt_00001685

Hemocyte of the embryo and larva. Relatively large, irregularly shaped hemocyte (Brehelin, 1982). At the end of the third instar larval stage, plasmatocytes contains numerous inclusions, digitations and pinocytotic vesicles, well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and small lysosome-like bodies. By the end of the third instar period they also contain numerous phagosomes. Plasmatocytes represent 90-95% of all mature larval hemocytes. They function in the removal of dead cells and microbial pathogens.

Brehelin and Zachary (1986) state that they never observe granular inclusions in plasmatocytes. Sometimes a few primary lysosomes as well as rare multivesicular bodies are visible, but these lysosomes are never 'condensed' into electron-dense granules. Together, this suggests that the synonym of 'granulocytes' is erroneous. The term podocyte refers to a plasmatocyte that extends long cytoplasmic extensions. They are no longer recognized as a distinct cell type (Michelle Crozatier, personal communication).