Haematology and leucocyte enzyme cytochemistry of a threatened yellow catfish Horabagrus brachysoma (Gunther 1864)

Abstract

The haematology and leucocyte enzyme cytochemistry of Horabagrus brachysoma, a threatened freshwater catfish endemic to southern India, was studied using standard methods. Intra-specific variation was found for the haematological parameters, but this did not exceed the range of values observed in other catfishes. The relatively high haemoglobin (Hb) concentration may be indicative of an ability to breathe air and high activity. The erythrocytes are fully packed with Hb, revealing the bottom dwelling habit and primitive nature of this catfish. The leucocyte enzyme pattern also showed some variations from those of other fishes. Lymphocytes were positive only for peroxidase (PER) enzyme activity and negative for alkaline phosphatase (LAP), alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and naphthol ASD chloroacetate esterase (ASDE). Monocytes were weakly positive for ANAE activity and negative for the other three enzymes tested. Neutrophils were negative for LAP, ANAE and ASDE but showed a moderately strong positive reaction for PER. Basophils and eosinophils were found to be devoid of all of these enzymes. Thrombocytes were observed to have weakly positive PER and ASDE, but there was no demonstrable LAP and ANAE activity. A number of characteristics were identified that distinguish this species from other fishes: (1) lymphocytes of H. brachysoma are actively engaged in both phagocytosis and defence mechanisms, while the monocytes participate in cellular defence mechanisms, primarily phagocytosis; (2) thrombocytes function as a protection barrier as well as carrying out their normal function of haemato plug formation during blood clotting. Results from the haematological and leucocyte cytochemical analyses reveal the haematological make-up and effective immune mechanism of this threatened fish and show it to be highly adaptive in nature. The data may be useful in programmes aiming the effective conservation of this species.

Cytochemical, immunocytochemical and ultrastructural observations on leukocytes and thrombocytes of fat snook (Centropomus parallelus)

“…In the current study, no staining for alkaline phosphatase was obtained in any of the blood cells, as similarly reported in previous studies [9,26,34]. Also similar was the neutrophil intense staining for glycogen and Sudan black B, which is reported as findings in other fish species, such as Salminus maxillosus [29], Ictalurus punctatus [40], Thunnus maccoyii [41].…”

“…The presence of esterase in fat snook thrombocytes is certainly another evidence of the participation of this cell in the innate immune response as suggested by other authors [9,32,34,38]. Furthermore, the presence of glycogen in thrombocytes fits the assumption of the potential phagocytic role of this cell as the source of energy needed to the process of digestion and elimination of foreign substances [5,12,39].…”

A comparative study on some blood factors in male and female Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) broodstock from southern basin of the Caspian Sea

“…Previous studies, on the other hand, reported increased total protein concentrations in the blood plasma of Tinca tinca broodstock before reproduction time (25,26). Blood glucose is a highly variable parameter that is strongly influenced by handling and environmental stresses as well as seasonal variations, nutritional status, and sexual maturity, among other stressors (27). Glucose levels in the female broodstock were significantly lower than levels in the male broodstock determined by this study.…”

Comparative study of the biochemical and haematological parameters of four wild Tyrrhenian fish species

“…Fish thrombocytes represent a link between innate and adaptive immunity (Passantino et al 2005) and express surface and intracellular molecules that are involved in immune function (Kollner 2004). It is already recognised that fish thrombocytes are blood phagocytes that form one a protective barrier (Tavares-Dias and Moraes, 2004;Prasad and Charles 2010;Prasad and Priyanka 2011). Haematological studies contribute to an understanding of the relationship between blood characteristics and the habitat and the adaptability of the species to the environment, so there is a need for establishing normal haematological values in different species of fish.…”