Atalayin I.Akat E.Ankan H.Uyanikgil Y.2019-10-262019-10-2620170253-72140253-7214https://hdl.handle.net/11454/16212The present study was carried out to determine hemocyte types of medical leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Four hemocytes types were identified; prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes and eleocytes. They were characterized by light microscopy according to size, presence or absence of grarules and nucleus/cytoplasm ratio. The prohemocytes were the smallest cells with large nuclei in the hemolymph. Plasmatocytes were polymorphic, varied from ovoid to spindle-shaped cells. Plasmatocytes were The most abundant hemocyte type in the hemolymph of H. medicinalis. Granulocytes were elliptical in shape and characterized by the presence of cytoplasmic granules. Eleocytes were spherical cells with homogeneous and slightly granular cytoplasm. The aim of this study was to characterise the hemocytes in H. medicinalis and to determine whether any differences from other invertebrates in terms of hemocyte types due to use in medical targets.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessHemocyteHirudo medicinalisInnate immunityLeechArticle381713Q4