Cytochemistry of Basophil Granulocyte in Carp and Puffer

Abstract

Basophil granulocytes of carp and puffer were studied cytochemically by light microscope. The basoghil cells were round with an eccentric nucleus and many coarse granules. These granules were found to be extremely water soluble, aud fixed with basic dyes or fourth amines. They were stained by basophilic procedures and showed metachromasia with basic dyes. These findings indicate that the granules contain acid mucopolysaccharide, and“basophil”is a rational name for the granulocyte in fishes. However, these granules did not stain by astra blue or alcian blue procedures. Furthermore, metachromasia was not seen at pH 1.5 in puffer, and 3.0 in carp. In addition, basophilic material combined with basic dye was extruded easily even in extremely diluted electrolyte solution. These results indicate that the rnucapolysacchazide in fishes does not contain many suffate radicals in the molecule. This indication is in contrast to heparin in mam-malian basophils.