AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY FROM BLOOD CELLS AND PLATELETS OF SWAMP BUFFALOES (BUBALUS BUBALIS)

Abstract

Blood cells and platelets from five swamp buffaloes, three males and two females, were studied by electron microscope. The blood cells could be categorized into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The red blood cells were round and had neither nucleus nor organelles. The white blood cells were divided into two groups; one with granules and the other without granules. The granulocytes (neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil) were round or oval and their nuclei were lobulated. The cytoplasm contained free ribosomes, a few mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Specific granules of various sizes were distributed in the cytoplasm and the smallest size of specific granules was
found in neutrophils. The size of specific granules in eosiophils and basophils were similar. The agranulocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes) as well as their nuclei were round or oval. Round azurophilic granules were observed in their cytoplasm. Endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes were also seen. Several round mitochondria were distributed in the cytoplasm. Nuclei were not seen in the platelets, while round and oval granules, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum could be found in its cytoplasm. From this study only eosinophils were different when comparing swamp buffaloes and cattle. The other cells were not conspicuously in different in size and shape, so they should be identified by cytochemical techniques. Keywords : swamp buffalo , blood cells, platelets, electron