Comparisons of Innate Immune Activity Among Different-Sized Members of the Sea Cucumber Species Apostichopus japonicus

A comparison was made of the innate immune activities of individuals of various sizes from a culture pond of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicas.The number of coelomocytes possessed by smaller sea cucumbers is significantly greater than that possessed by larger sizes(P0.05).The cytolytic activity of small sizes of sea cucumber is also significantly greater than that of larger sizes(P0.05).However,there is no significant difference in the activity levels of lysozyme,COP,ACP or NOS between smaller-sized and larger-size Apostichopus japonicas.Thus,the differences in innate immune activity between different sizes of sea cucumber do not affect their growth patterns.