Evidence for hemocyanin formation in the compound eye of Squilla mantis (Crustacea, Stomatopoda).

In the retina and in the subretinal space of the compound eye of Squilla mantis a special kind of pigment cell is present. The crystalline inclusions of this cell have been identified as hemocyanin, as determined (i) by the dimensional congruence of the crystalline substructure with the dimensions of isolated, purified hemocyanin, and (ii) by the immunofluorescence reaction using anti-hemicyanin antibodies. The ultrastructure of these cells, their location and the presence of crystalline bodies in their cytoplasm suggest that they are sites of hemocyanin synthesis and homologous to the cyanocytes or cyanoblasts of Limulus.