Ascidian blood cells contain a level of vanadium ion much higher than that in seawater. Blood cells are generally classified into six to nine types based on their morphology. On the basis of a Ficoll gradient for cell fractionation, neutron activation analysis of vanadium ion, and ESR spectra of oxovanadium ion in blood cells, the signet ring cells are the most likely “vanadocytes” in Ascidia ahodori. The vanadyl ion (VO2+), detected in high levels in these cells, binds with some low molecular weight substances through their oxygen donors.
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Michibata et al. (1987) studied this question.
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