HEMATOPOIETIC SUPRANEURAL ORGAN OF ADULT, SEXUALLY IMMATURE RIVER LAMPREYS (LAMPETRA-FLUVIATILIS-[L] GRAY) WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO AZUROPHIL LEUKOCYTES

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (1) , 45-56
Abstract
Other than erythro- and granulopoietic elements, macrophages, reticular cells, fibroblasts and glycogen-rich fat cells were seen. Developing granulocytes of the lamprey contain 1 type of azurophil granule originating from small cytoplasmic (Golgi) vesicles. The lamprey''s azurophil granulocytes were homologous with those of fishes. The granulocytes of fishes studied show granules with only 1 type of inclusion but in the lamprey, the granulocyte inclusions are variable in size and shape. Lamprey granulocytes are probably reminiscent of similar cells of higher vertebrates. The PAS [periodic acid Scniff] and alkaline phosphatase reactions, common markers of vertebrate neutrophil leukocytes, are very weak in the hematopoietic tissue granulocytes of the lamprey, and intense in the blood cells of the same animal. Lamprey granulocytes, similarly to the granulocytes of Chondrostei and Elasmobranchi do not stain with peroxidase, naphthol-AS-D-chloroacetate esterase ans sudan black B. The hematopoietic tissue contains a relatively high number of degenerated granulocytes.