The blood leukocytes of Bufo marinus: a light, phase-contrast, and histochemical study

Abstract

Blood leukocytes of Bufo marinus were studied by light and phase-contrast microscopy and histochemical techniques for the localization of glycogen, lipids, several basic proteins, and a number of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes. The hydrolytic enzymes occurred in varying amounts in neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes; neutrophils were the only leukocytes to demonstrate alkaline phosphatase activity, while β-glucuronidase was only seen in lymphocytes, and aryl-sulfatase was not observed in any leukocytes. Periodic acid – Schiff (PAS) positive granules also occurred in varying amounts in leukocytes. Slight lipid activity was only seen in neutrophils, while arginine, and (or) lysine, and tyrosine reactivity was only observed in eosinophils. The appearance and histochemical reactivity of acid phosphatase granules in neutrophils corresponded closely with the appearance and number of specific neutrophilic granules seen in Wright–Giemsa preparations and with the PAS-positive granules. Small lymphocytes were myeloperoxidase (peroxidase) negative; β-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase, and PAS-positive granules corresponded to neutral red granules seen in supravital films. The oxidative enzymes also occurred in differing amounts in leukocytes, but strongly suggested that the leukocytes of Bufo marinus are capable of some degree of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism.