Gel-like bubbles and white blood cells
I started seeing these small bubbles in blood samples about a year ago. At first, only one or two of them were floating in the plasma. Now they're more common. It looks like the gel islands produce them. I haven't found any information yet about what they are or what they do.
White blood cells gather them up.
First, the white blood cell uses its receptors to detect the harmful substance. Once the white blood cell has detected the harmful substance, it extends its pseudopods, which are finger-like projections that help it surround the substance. The white blood cell then releases enzymes that break down the harmful substance. Once the harmful substance has been broken down, the white blood cells digest it and then release the waste products.
5 white blood cells, out of which 3 contain this gel-like bubbles:
Green arrows: small bubbles in the WBCs.
The following images were taken a few hours later. It appears that the usual hydrogel (irregular bubbles) produces this round gel-like bubble.
The green arrows indicate the newly formed gel-like bubbles (4 hrs later):
2 white blood cells carrying the bubbles:
Unfortunately, this WBC seems to be unable to move forward with the large bubbles inside it. It tries to start in different directions, but it cannot move forward by the end of the 5-minute video:
This WBC has captured 3 bubbles. It also seems to be having trouble moving:
WBC contains small bubbles. The blood plasma contains many small bubbles. WBC can still move with bubbles of this size.:
1st image: The yellow arrow points to the WBC, and the green arrow points to the small bubbles. The WBC is trying to dissolve the large gel-like thing.
2nd image: 3 WBCs are trying to dissolve the gel. The WBCs already contain small bubbles.
3rd image: This WBC has already collected a few pieces of small bubbles. There are 2 larger pieces of bubbles in the upper right corner of the image.
Finally, a video of a WBC swimming in the plasma, looking for trash. I love watching them work and pushing the RBCs aside:)