IDENTIFICATION OF 3 TYPES OF GRANULES IN NEUTROPHILS OF RUMINANTS - ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CIRCULATING AND MATURING CELLS

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  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (2) , 151-158
Abstract
The production of 3 populations of granules during maturation and their occurrence in the neutrophils of a number of ruminants is described. Bone marrow samples from cows, sheep and goats were fixed, reacted for peroxidase and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Granule formation occurred at 3 subsequent stages. As in other species including man, it begins with the production of peroxidase-positive granules and is concluded with the production of moderately dark-staining, peroxidase-negative granules of similar size. These 2 organelles have the characteristics of the azurophil or primary and specific or secondary granules of other species. At an intermediate stage, a different type of peroxidase-negative granule, the large granule, is formed. Its profile is round and markedly larger than those of azurophil and specific granules. The large granules initially have a loose, undulated membrane and fill gradually with matrix which in early forms consists of a central core. Fully developed large granules have a sharply defined membrane and a pale, very uniform content. The 2 types of peroxidase-negative granules can be distinguished by their sizes and times of formation and also by the appearance of their content which is more coarse and darker in the specific granules. Mature neutrophils from cows, goats, sheep and an ibex were also examined. Two features are common to all cells viewed: the presence of 3 types of granules and the preponderance of the large granule population. Apparently, the large granules are a characteristic property of the neutrophils of ruminants.

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