Hemocytes/coelomocytes DNA content in five marine invertebrates: cell cycles and genome sizes

The hemocytes/coelomocytes DNA content in five selected marine invertebrates (sea mouse Aphrodita aculeata, spiny crab Maja crispata, sea star Echinaster sepositus, sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, and tunicate Phallusia mammillata) was investigated by flow cytometry. The cell cycle analyses identified sea mouse coelomocytes as proliferating cells and revealed that spiny crab hemocytes and sea urchin coelomocytes complete their division in the hemolymph and coelom, respectively. The genome sizes of sea mouse and spiny crab are reported for the first time. The diploid DNA content (2C) in sea mouse A. aculeate was 1.24 pg, spiny crab M. crispata 7.76 pg, red starfish E. sepositus 1.52 pg and sea urchin P. lividus 1.08 pg. The mean diploid DNA content in tunicate P. mammillata was 0.11 pg with a high interindividual variability (45%). The presented results provide a useful database for future studies in the field of invertebrate physiology, ecotoxicology, biodiversity, species conservation and phylogeny.