Original scientific paper

Morphological and cytochemical characterization of thrombocytes and leukocytes in hatchlings of three species of Amazonian freshwater turtles

Adriano T. Oliveira ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Biológica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Gal Rodrigo Octávio Jordão Ramos, Manaus, AM, Brazil
Wanessa R. Cruz ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Biológica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Gal Rodrigo Octávio Jordão Ramos, Manaus, AM, Brazil
Jackson Pantoja-Lima ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, Manaus, Amazonas, AM, Brazil
Sihame B. Araújo ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Biológica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Gal Rodrigo Octávio Jordão Ramos, Manaus, AM, Brazil
Maria L. G. Araújo ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Biológica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Gal Rodrigo Octávio Jordão Ramos, Manaus, AM, Brazil
Jaydione L. Marcon ; Laboratório de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Gal Rodrigo Octávio Jordão Ramos, Manaus, AM, Brazil
Marcos Tavares-Dias ; Laboratório de Aquicultura Pesca, Embrapa Amapá, Rodovia Juscelino Kubitschek, Macapá, AP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to characterize the morphological and cytochemical aspects of thrombocytes and leukocytes in hatchlings of Podocnemis expansa, P. unifilis and P. sextuberculata from the lower Purus River, Amazonas State, Brazil. Blood smears were submitted to staining by Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS), Peroxidase (PER), Toluidine Blue (TB), Sudan Black B (SBB) and Bromophenol Blue (BB). Only the lymphocytes did not present a positive-PAS reaction, while heterophils of P. unifilis showed a weak positive reaction.
Azurophils, heterophils and eosinophils had a weak positive reaction for PER, with the exception of heterophils in P. expansa which stained intensely. Positive staining with BB was observed in granules of heterophils, eosinophils and basophils of P. expansa, P. unifilis and P. sextuberculata, but this was weak in basophils of P. sextuberculata. Sudanophilia was observed in heterophils granules and in eosinophils of P. expansa, P. unifilis and P. sextuberculata. Metachromasia was demonstrated in basophils of these three species. In these turtle hatchlings, heterophils and eosinophils are the most frequent leukocytes and both have a similar role in defense, since the granules of these granulocytes present glycogen, sudanophilia, peroxidase and basic proteins.

Keywords

blood cells; chelonians; cytochemistry; defense; Podocnemis

Hrčak ID:

72965

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/72965

Publication date:

20.10.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 1.437 *