Cytochemistry of leukocytes from the family Macropodidae

Abstract

The cytochemical staining characteristics of leukocytes from four species of Macropodidae and one species of Potoroidae were studied to investigate the cellular composition of leukocytes within the Macropodidae family and determine markers that may be useful for identifying cell lineage. Blood smears from the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), the western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosis), the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), quokka (Setonix brachyurus) and a potoroid species, the woylie (Bettongia pencillata) were examined following reaction for Sudan Black B (SBB), peroxidase (PER), chloracetate esterase (CAE), α-naphthyl butyrate esterase (NBE) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Similar to domestic animal species, the neutrophils and eosinophils of macropodid species stained for both SBB and PER while monocytes and lymphocytes showed little or no reaction. CAE and NBE, however, were not useful as markers for macropodid neutrophils and monocytes, respectively. Significant variation between species was seen in ALP content.Tammar wallabies and quokkas demonstrated strong ALP activity within their neutrophils and eosinophils. In contrast, western grey kangaroos and red kangaroos contained no ALP activity in any of their leukocytes and staining in woylies was limited to weak reaction within some eosinophils.