Ultrastructures of Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells and Platelets in Four Species of Macaques in Thailand

Abstract

The structure of blood cells and platelets in 11 macaques (2 stump-tailed macaques, 5 long-tailed macaques, 1 rhesus macaque and 3 pig-tailed macaques) were studied using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Erythrocytes were non-nucleated, biconcave disks without cytoplasmic organelles. Neutrophils had numerous small specific granules. Eosinophils contained specific granules with a dense matrix and a pale crystalloid body. Basophils revealed large round specific granules. Lymphocytes possessed scant cytoplasm with some mitochondria and azurophilic granules. Monocytes contained a large number of mitochondria, azurophilic granules and endoplasmic reticulum. Platelets were represented by anucleation and they had several different organelles in the cytoplasm. The structure of erythrocytes, neutrophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and platelets of macaques were similar to those of other mammals whereas eosinophils differed among several
species.