Anticoagulant Effects of Heparin and EDTA on Silkworm (Bombyx mori) Blood as Determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Viscosity Analysis

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) blood was found to be a dispersion of numerous blood cell particles in varied aggregate form. The aggregates easily entwine to produce coagulates of blood cell particles. Anticoagulant is thus necessary to prevent such formation over a prolonged period. In this study, the anticoagulant of heparin and EDTA (ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid) generally used for mammal blood was applied to silkworm (Bombyx mori) blood and the results were investigated. Electron micrography indicated heparin to adhere to the spherical portion of silkworm (Bombyx mori) blood, disrupt blood cell particle-particle interactions and prevent coagulation. EDTA was absorbed to the surface of the fibrous portion of blood cell particles was found to penetrate silkworm (Bombyx mori) blood cells and prevent entwining that would have led to coagulate formation. Viscosity measurement data clarified the mechanism of the anticoagulant effects of silkworm (Bombyx mori) blood cell particles.