Amebocito

A amoebocito (or explosive cell) is a mobile cell (moving similarly to an amoeba) within the body of invertebrates such as echinoderms, mollusks or sponges. They move through pseudopodia. Similar to some white blood cells of vertebrates, in many species they are found in the blood or body fluids and participate in the defense of the body against pathogens. Depending on the species, it can digest and distribute food, remove waste, form skeletal fibers, fight off infections and modify to become other cell types.

Limulus amebocyte lysate, the aqueous extract of horseshoe crab amoebocytes (Limulus polyphemus), is frequently used in a test to detect bacterial endotoxins.

In sponges, amebocytes or archeocytes are cells found in the mesozole that can be transformed into any of the more specialized cell types of the animal.

In ancient literature, the term amebocyte was often used synonymously with phagocyte.

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