The main blood parameters of the swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri, were studied. Morphology, granulation staining and cytochemistry of leucocytes in peripheral blood, kidney, spleen and gills were investigated by light microscopy. Blood parameters are similar to other fish species: Red blood cell count (4.5 × 106μl), white blood cell count (15.2 × 103μl), haema‐tocrit (33.8%) haemoglobin (7.8 mg ml−1), MCV (mean corpuscle volume, 75.1 μm3). MCH (mean content of haemoglobin, 17.3 pg), MCHC (mean percentage haemoglobin/erythrocyte, 23.1%/100 ml erythrocytes). Leucocytes can be classified into lymphocytes, thrombocytes, neutrophilic and eosinophilic gra‐nulocytes, monocytes macrophages and melanomacrophages.
Morphological and cytochemical features of the cells are described and compared with results from other fish species.
The morphology of blood cells in the kidney and spleen of Xiphophorus helleri was characterized by electron microscopy. Erythrocytes, thrombocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages were identified. Thrombocytes were elongate and contained bundles of microtubules and a canalicular system. Lymphocytes were heterogeneous in morphology. Granulocytes were divided into two types, based on the light microscopic results, which were extended by the present electron microscopic study. Neutrophils and eosinophils differed in abundance, cell shape, morphology of the nucleus and granula. Neutrophils displayed a spherical to three‐lobulated nucleus and different types of granula. Several intermediate forms of granula were observed. The complement of granules displayed a different composition in the cells. These findings suggest a maturation process of a single type of granulum rather than several types. Eosinophils also contain different types of granula, described as G1–G4. The cell shape was variable and nuclei were small and eccentric. Monocytes and macrophages frequently showed autophagocytotic figures. A peroxidase reaction was observed only in the granula of neutrophils.
The quantitative determination of blood cells in the kidney of swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri, was determined by light microscopical observations. Lymphocytes/thrombocytes and neutro‐philic granulocytes (32.4 and 31.6%, respectively) represent the main blood cells in kidney. High amounts of blastic cells in different mitotic phases indicate the role of the kidney as a major haematopoietic organ in this fish species. Additionally, a good and reproducible method for the isolation of accessory and immunoreactive cells was developed using density gradient centrifugation.
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