The leukocytes and platelets of
Trichosurus vulpecula are in many respects typically mammalian. Relatively unusual morphological features are paucity of granules in neutrophils, elongated form of eosinophil granules, abundance and uniformity of basophil granules, and, in monocytes, high frequency of irregular nuclei (some annular) and coarseness of chromatin.
Mean leukocyte count per cmm was 13, 380 and mean counts for individual cell types were: neutrophils 5, 790, eosinophils 221, basophils 31, lymphocytes 6, 720, monocytes 619. The last two of these are fairly high amongst mammals, those for eosinophils and basophils fairly low. The mean number of nuclear segments per neutrophil was 2.41, per eosinophil 1.34. Mean diameters (in μ) of cell types in stained smears were: neutrophils 13.00, eosinophils 13.77, basophils 14.24, lymphocytes 10.32, monocytes 14.99. Most platelets are similar in size to human ones but large examples are more common.
Neutrophil granules are coloured intensely by sudan black B, eosinophil granules less so. Basophils and platelets, and most monocytes and lymphocytes, are sudanophobic.
Amylase-labile PAS-positive material is abundant in neutrophils; there is some in platelets and, probably, also in basophil cytoplasmic matrix. Basophil granules and the periphery of eosinophil granules exhibit amylase-resistant PAS-positivity.
No peroxidase is demonstrable in leukocytes using o-tolidine as substrate, but with benzidine a positive reaction occurs in neutrophils and eosinophils.
Alkaline phosphatase is demonstrable only in basophils-mostly in their specific granules, a location not previously reported for any mammal. The simultaneous coupling azo-dye method used was more sensitive and gave more precise localization than the cobalt sulphide technique.
Succinate dehydrogenase activity is exhibited by some lymphocytes, monocytes and platelets. Lactate dehydrogenase activity is more intense in these cells and, especially, in platelets; a weak reaction occurs in some neutrophils and eosinophils.
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