Some aspects of haematology of an Indian grass snake Natrix stolata in relation to sex and size.

Studies have been made on the erythrocyte counts per mm3 of blood, total differential leucocyte counts per mm3 of blood, concentration of haemoglobin per 100 ml of blood, haematocrit values and nucleocytoplasmic ratio in a common Indian grass snake, Natrix stolata, in relation to body weight of both the sexes in the same month of the year (during breeding phase). Logarithmic transformations have been used in case of erythrocyte counts and haemoglobin concentrations. From log/log calculation it seems that the correlation between body weight and erythrocyte is more prounounced in females than in males. The concentration of haemoglobin shows a very high degree of correlation in both the sexes. The haematocrit values show a clear trend of increase with increasing body weight in both the sexes. The nucleocytoplasmic ratio does not show much variation in different weight groups whereas in females the variation is well marked in different weight groups and the size of erythrocyte also becomes larger in higher weight groups. In both the sexes the leucocyte counts have been found that along with the increase in body weights, the number of leucocyte increases in juveniles but in adults the leucocyte number decreases with the increasing body weights.     

The haematology of triploid landlocked Atlantic salmon, Salmo solar L.

Triploid landlocked Atlantic salmon had a larger mean erythrocyte volume but lower erythrocyte count than diploids; the haematocrit was the same in diploids and triploids. Although the total blood haemoglobin content and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were lower in triploids than in diploids, the actual mean corpuscular haemoglobin content of triploid erythrocytes was higher than that of diploids. The increase in triploid mean erythrocyte volume was mainly due to an increase in cell length; there was only a minor increase in cell width and no increase in cell height. The nucleus of triploid erythrocytes occupied a greater percentage of the corpuscular volume than did the diploid nucleus. Mean cytoplasmic haemoglobin concentration was found to be the same for diploids and triploids when this was taken into account     

Some aspects of haematology of a common Indian field rat, Rattus rattus arborious (Linn.) in relation to sex and size.

In the present investigation the studies on erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit values, blood biochemistry of protein, glucose and cholesterol, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, pH value, diameter of erythrocyte and clotting time were made in different sex and size (weight group) of an Indian field rat, Rattus rattus arborious. The number of erythrocyte, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit values were found to be higher in females than the males, while the number of leucocyte was lower in females in comparison to males. In the biochemical estimation the value of protein in females was high while that of the glucose and cholesterol were lower than that of the males. All the above values showed an increasing tendency with the increase in body weight. pH value, diameter of erythrocyte and clotting time were found to be almost constant in rats of different weight groups and different sex.     

Significance of reduced food and water consumption in rats intoxicated with vanadium.

1. Male Wistar rats were given, for four weeks, a limited amount of food, or the amount of food and water equal to that consumed by rats drinking solely an aqueous solution of ammonium metavanadate instead of water (AMV) of 0.3 mg V/cm3 concentration. 2. In rats with limited access to food but free access to water, a significant decrease of body weight increment was observed, together with an increase of the haemoglobin level and a decrease in the percentage of reticulocytes and polychromatophilic erythrocytes in the peripheral blood. 3. In the rats which did not receive food and water ad libitum a significant decrease of the body weight increment and an increase of the haemoglobin level were noted. 4. In animals drinking the aqueous AMV solution instead of water the body weight increment diminished significantly, and so did the erythrocyte count and haemoglobin level, whereas the percentage of reticulocytes and polychromatophilic erythrocytes increased in the peripheral blood.     

Differences between breeds of rabbits in their susceptibility to the effect of foschlor

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of foschlor on erythrocytes and leucocytes in two breeds of rabbits--Belgian and black-and-tan. Administration of the pesticide caused a considerable drop in the number of erythrocytes, haemoglobin level and haematocrit value in both breeds. Changes in the values of red blood cell indices, characterized by an increase in mean erythrocyte volume and haemoglobin content in blood cells, were observed in the black-and-tan breed only. The pesticide used caused changes in leucocytes in both breeds, expressed as a distinct neutrophilic leucocytosis with lymphopaenia and eosinopaenia. Changes in the leucogram were reflected in the increase in the leucocyte index. The degree of intensity of the changes in both erythrocytes and leucocytes points to the greater resistance of the Belgian breed to intoxication by foschlor than the black-and-tan breed.     

Haematological characterization of loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus: comparison among diploid, triploid and tetraploid specimens

The purpose of this study was to determine whether diploid, triploid and tetraploid loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) differed in terms of their main haematological and physiological characteristics. Diploid and tetraploid fish were produced by crossing of natural diploids (2n x 2n) and natural tetraploids (4n x 4n), respectively. Triploid fish were produced by hybridization between diploid males and tetraploid females. The blood cells were significantly larger in polyploids, and the volumetric ratios of erythrocytes and leucocytes (thrombocyte and neutrophil) in tetraploids, triploids and diploids were consistent with the ploidy level ratio of 4:3:2. No significant differences were observed in haematocrit among polyploids. The erythrocyte count decreased with increased ploidy level, while total haemoglobin, mean cell volume, mean cellular haemoglobin content, and mean cell haemoglobin concentration all increased with increase in ploidy level. Erythrocyte osmotic brittleness declined in polyploids so that polyploid erythrocytes were more resistant to osmotic stress than diploid ones. Overall, loach with higher ploidy levels showed evidence of some advantages in haematological characteristics.     

Total body haematocrit iron kinetics and erythrocyte life span in pigeons (Columba livia)

1. The mean pigeon erythrocyte life span was found to be 17-25 days by Cr51-labeled erythrocytes and 21 +/- 3.4 days by iron kinetics. 2. Total red blood cell volume has been calculated by Cr51-labeled erythrocytes while total plasma volume was determined both by a dye method and iron kinetic data. From these results total blood volume and total body haematocrit were found to be 0.090 +/- 0.002 ml/g body wt and 36 +/- 4.3%, respectively. 3. Venous haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, plasma iron and red blood cell iron have also been measured. 4. A significant difference between total body and venous haematocrit and a short mean red blood cell life span, due to ageing and to random destruction of erythrocytes were shown. 5. The above observations are compared with analogous available data for human beings and their physiological significance is discussed.     

Experimental studies on anaemia in sheep infected with Dictyocaulus filaria

The pathogenesis of Dictyocaulus filaria induced anaemia was experimentally investigated. Nineteen Dorset-Muzaffarnagri male lambs were divided into two groups of 13 and six. The lambs in the former group received a primary infection dose of 2000 D. filaria infective larvae, whereas animals in the latter group were kept as uninfected controls. The haematological alterations and faecal larval output were monitored weekly until day 220 post-infection. The infection caused an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and total leukocyte count (TLC). However, a decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count (TEC) and blood pH was observed in acute infection. The shape and size of the erythrocytes, serum bilirubin level, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) remained unaffected In carriers, except for TEC, the values of these parameters returned to near-normal levels. The analysis of the results suggests that the infected animals developed a normocytic normochromic anaemia which persisted during the later stage of infection.     

Effect of selenium on resistance of hemoglobin to photooxidative processes

On an example of a guinea pig it is shown that exogenous selenium (0.5 mg Na2SeO3 per 1 kg of the animal weight) during 2-hour exposition in the animal organism increases the resistance to the photo-induced oxidation of haemoglobin in erythrocyte lysates without additional stimulation of glutathione peroxidase mechanism of haemoglobin protection by exogenous selenium. It is shown that the saturation of haemoglobin fractions by selenium hampers the oxidative modification of haemoglobin. Using pregnancy of women as a natural model of selenium-deficiency condition, it has been shown that physiological debilitation of saturation erythrocytes with selenium, including haemoglobin fractions of lysates erythrocytes caused debilitation of resistance of haemoglobin to photooxidative destruction. Under these conditions not only activity of enzyme glutathione peroxidise in erythrocyte lysates, but also the peroxidase activity of haemoglobin (in the presence of glutathione) were decreased. It is more characteristic of erythrocyte lysates with a less content of selenium, i.e. for the erythrocytes of women on late terms of pregnancy that testifies to the presence of certain relation between haemoglobin saturation with selenium and its peroxidase activity (in the presence of glutathione).     

Erythrocyte,lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in hypervitaminotic A rats and their modification by dietary protein

Rats fed excess vitamin A showed decreased body weight gain and protein efficiency ratio. In rats fed low protein vitamin A level increased in liver but with an associated decrease in plasma. These changes were reversed in high protein fed state. The amount of protein in diet had little effect on haemoglobin level in erythrocyte, but excess vitamin A in diet significantly decreased haemoglobin level in erythrocyte. Lipid peroxidation (LP) increased in rats fed low protein and decreased in high protein fed rats. Rats fed high protein and excess vitamin A showed minimum level of LP. Result showed that high protein in diet increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and that excess vitamin A supplementation functions synergistically with high protein in diet to increase antioxidant enzymes level.     

Red cell distribution width and erythrocyte osmotic stability in type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between red cell distribution width (RDW) and erythrocyte osmotic stability in non-diabetic and diabetic individuals in both sexes. The study sample (N = 122) was constituted by 53 type 2 diabetics (DM) and 69 non-diabetics (ND), being 21 and 22 men in each group, respectively. The osmotic stability of erythrocytes was obtained by the variation in saline concentration (dX) capable of determining hypoosmotic lysis. Higher RDW values and lower serum iron concentrations were found in the diabetic group when compared to the non-diabetic volunteers. In the group of diabetic women, RDW was positively correlated with the reticulocyte index, and both RDW and dX were negatively correlated with iron, haemoglobin, transferrin saturation index, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. In all the groups studied, RDW was positively correlated with dX, especially in the diabetic group, where the correlation was the strongest. RDW elevation in both women and men with type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with decreased serum iron indicators. Furthermore, RDW has a similar meaning to dX, as small erythrocytes have less haemoglobin, resulting in both an increase of RDW and dX.     

Changes in the blood parameters of an air-breathing fish during different respiratory conditions.

Some of the blood parameters recorded in an air-breathing eel, Amphipnous cuchia under normal respiratory condition during non-breeding period (September-April) are haemoglobin (Hb) concentration 19.26%, haematocrit value 56.16%, RBC number 1.71 million/mm3, RBC size 18.86 X 9.70 mum, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) 113.4 ng, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 34.2%, blood sugar 77 mg% and ascorbic acid 0.435 mg%. The higher concentration of haemoglobin (19.26%) appears to be related to its obligatory air breathing habit and habitat in a water of low oxygen content. Though a definite trend of increase in the haemoglobin and haematocrit concentration with an increase in the body weight of the fish was lacking, variations were clearly marked related to intrinsic activity of the fish connected with different respiratory conditions. Asphyxiation in a submerged but continuous flow of water (liter/h) for 5 1/2 h resulted in an increase in the above-mentioned parameters to an appreciable extent. These increases were 0.23 million/mm3 in the number of erythrocytes, 6.16% in haemoglobin concentration, 10% in haematocrit value, 20% in blood sugar and 35% in ascorbic acid content. The mean corpuscular haemoglobin showed a decline of 6.2%. Exclusive aerial breathing for 5 1/2 h also caused 7.4% increase in haemoglobin concentration, 9.4% in haematocrit value, 0.14 million/mm3 in RBC number, 20% in blood sugar level, 9% in ascorbic acid content but almost no change in mean corpuscular haemoglobin. The average surface area for diffusion of gases appeared to have reduced by 6.8 mum2 per RBC.     

Cells, proteins, and certain physical-chemical properties of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) blood

Laboratory brook trout were used to evaluate, refine, or develop biochemical procedures for the analysis of fish blood. Analytical values were obtained for the following blood properties: total and differential leucocytes and erythrocytes; erythrocyte and plasma proteins (by electrophoresis); plasma refractive index; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; erythrocyte osmotic fragility; blood surface tension and density; haemoglobin; and packed cell volume. These blood factors are discussed with reference to fish health and disease and to changes caused by deleterious quantities of water pollutants.     

Pharmacological correction of microcirculation in rats suffering from traumatic brain injury

We investigated the effect of mexicor on functional indices of erythrocytes and the structure of myocardial microcirculation in rats suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). At 3, 7, and 12 days after TBI, we measured the concentration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and the degree of erythrocyte aggregation and their electrophoretic mobility (EPME) in the blood of rats, as well as analyzing sections of the left ventricular myocardium. The first day after the TBI, we observed a decrease in EPME, an increase of erythrocyte aggregation, and an increase of 2,3-DFG concentration in erythrocytes as compared with intact animals. Intraperitoneal injection of mexicor led to an increase of EPME and 2,3-DPG level and reduced the aggregation of erythrocytes, which was most pronounced during the 3–7 days of the post-traumatic period. Improved functional parameters of erythrocytes were accompanied by the dynamics of regenerative processes in the heart. Intraperitoneal injection of mexicor restrained architectonic damage of microvasculature and cardiomyocytes ultrastructure of the left ventricular myocardium of the heart.     

Comparative electron cytochemical and biochemical study of ATPase and beta-glycerophosphatase activity in thymocytes, leukocytes and erythrocytes]

A study was made of the effect of procedures (freezing-thawing prior to incubation, prefixation with formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, incubation with DMSO) on the activity of ATPase and beta-glycerophosphatase in leucocytes and erythrocytes of man, and of the effect of these procedures and of homogenization on ATPase activity in the cells of the rat thymus. The homogenization of rat thymocytes decreases ATPase activity by 15%. A repeated freezing-thawing results in a 15% decrease of ATPase activity in the cells of the rat thymus. The homogenization of rat thymocytes decreases ATPase activity in rat thymocytes, in a 2% decrease in human leucocytes, and in a 21% increase in human erythrocytes. Beta-glycerophosphatase activity in leucocytes and in erythrocytes increases thereby by 89 and 38%. Incorporation of 5% DMSO into the medium increases ATPase activity in human leucocytes and erythrocytes by 17 and 16%, while thymocytes this activity drops by 27%. Beta-glycerophosphatase activity increases thereby in leucocytes by 26 and in erythrocytes by 11.5%, resp.     

Abnormality of erythrocyte membrane n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in sickle cell haemoglobin C (HbSC) disease is not as remarkable as in sickle cell anaemia (HbSS)

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders in which clinical illness results from the presence of erythrocytes with sickled haemoglobin (HbS). Blood vessel occlusion is a fundamental pathological process in SCD. Sickle cell haemoglobin C (HbSC) disease and sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) share some pathophysiology and clinical manifestations. However, the former is generally less severe. Erythrocytes of HbSC patients have longer life span, reduced haemolysis, and lower propensity to adhere to vascular endothelium than those of their HbSS counterparts. The structure and function of erythrocytes are strongly modulated by membrane long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). We have tested the possibility that HbSC and HbSS patients have different membrane fatty acid composition consistent with the difference in their clinical severity. Steady-state patients, 9 HbSC and 28 HbSS, and 15 HbAA were studied. The HbSC patients had a higher level of linoleic (LA, P<0.05) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, P<0.05) acids, and lower arachidonic acid (AA, P<0.01) and AA/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio (P<0.05) in erythrocyte choline phosphoglycerides (CPG) compared with the HbSS group. Similarly, the level of EPA was higher and AA/EPA ratio (P<0.01) lower in serine phosphoglycerides of the HbSC patients. In contrast to the HbSC, the HbSS group had lower levels of EPA (P<0.001), DHA (P<0.05), total n-3 metabolites and total n-3 fatty acids (P<0.001) in erythrocyte CPG compared with the healthy HbAA controls. Moreover, the HbSS patients with disease complications compared with those without complications had reduced DHA and total n-3 fatty acids (P<0.005) in erythrocyte CPG. The abnormalities in erythrocyte in LCPUFA which is manifested by an increase in AA and a decrease in EPA and DHA in HbSS relative to HbSC disease observed in this study are consistent with the contrast in clinical severity between the two entities.     

The effect of different krill meals fed to laboratory rats on their blood indices.

1. In 102 laboratory rats fed with (a) the krill standardized meal, (b) the krill meal with low chitin content, (c) the casein diet with D,L-methionine, (d) the casein diet with D,L-methionine supplemented with the krill carapace meal, (e) the casein diet with D,L-methionine supplemented with ash from the krill standardized meal and (f) the control diet--"Murigran" standard pelleted feed; the different blood indices were investigated. 2. The mean values of following indices: the number of erythrocytes and leucocytes, the percentage of leucocytes, the corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell diameter were similar in all experimental and control groups. 3. The mean values of haematocrit and haemoglobin levels, the mean corpuscular thickness and volume were lower in rats fed with the casein diet with D,L-methionine supplemented with the krill carapace meal than in other groups. 4. All kinds of investigated indices were similar in rats fed with krill meal with low chitin contents, whose parents received the standardized krill meal and no sex differences have been shown here.     

Optimal conditions for lactoperoxidase catalyzed radioiodination of external proteins on mouse erythrocytes

Optimal conditions were established for specific labelling of the surface proteins of mouse erythrocytes using lactoperoxidase-catalyzed radioiodination. The levels of H2O2 and I-, and cell concentrations required for restriction of haemoglobin labelling to less than 5% of the total 125I-protein, were different for radioiodination employing direct H2O2 addition or generation of H2O2 with glucose oxidase plus glucose. Preparation of mouse erythrocyte ghosts by hypotonic lysis caused loss of some minor labelled proteins present on intact cells and shifts to lower molecular weights of others. It is therefore important to solubilize labelled cells directly in electrophoresis buffer to avoid artifactual degradation of labelled proteins. The extent of labelling internal cell proteins was measured by a procedure suitable for the comparison of a large number of samples: solubilized radioiodinated erythrocytes were electrophoresed on 14% acrylamide gels and the radioactivity determined in the haemoglobin band which migrates separately from other proteins. The major labelled protein on the mouse erythrocytes had an apparent molecular weight of 92,000, and may be analogous to Band 3 of the human erythrocyte.     

Age related toxic effects of endosulfan on certain enzymes of rat erythrocytes

The effect of oral administration of endosulfan (12.5 mg/kg body weight), daily for 4 days was investigated on erythrocytes of female rats of 4 different age groups i.e. 15, 30, 70 and 365 days old. Erythrocyte membrane Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Mg2(+)-ATPase activities were significantly inhibited in all the age groups of rats. However, percent inhibition was maximum in the youngest animals. A significant decrease in the activity of erythrocyte glutathione reductase was observed in 30 and 70 days old rats whereas a significant increase in the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) was observed in these groups. The increase in G-6-PD activity may be a physiological response to compensate for decrease in the reduced glutathione level which results from decrease in the activity of glutathione reductase.     

Rosette formation of concanavalin A-treated erythrocytes around polymorphonuclear leucocytes and lymphocytes.

Concanavalin A (Con A) induces rosette formation of erythrocytes around polymorphonuclear leucocytes and lymphocytes in cell suspensions of autologous human blood cells. The effect which is most characteristic in a concentration between 25 and 50 microgram/ml is due to Con A bound on the erythrocyte membrane. A similar effect, although less pronounced, was observed with phytohaemagglutinin at concentrations of 10 and 25 microgram/ml. The treated erythrocytes showed a higher affinity to polymorphonuclears when compared with lymphocytes. At the contact area, the membrane of the erythrocyte became highly folded while its free surface was smooth and spherical. The effect of the local concentration and immunobilization of the lectin on the erythrocyte membrane and the similarity of the contact pattern to that of erythrophagocytosis are discussed.