Morphologic caracteristics of cells on the erytrocytic series of the Caiman crocodilus yacare (Daudin, 1802; Reptilia, crocodilia)

Abstract

We studied hemopoietic cells in five young and healthy Brazilian cayman (Caiman crocodilus yacare). Peripheral blood samples (in EDTA) were collected by cervical venous sinuses puncture and bone marrow samples were obtained by femural bone needle aspiration. The bone marrow histological study was performed on femoral bone samples, with staining for HE, Giemsa and by Gomori technique for reticulin. Peripheral blood and marrow films were stained by Leishman or Rosenfeld technique. Active hemopoietic tissues were found by transversal section of the femur. Immature erythrocytic cells were found inside of sinusoid capilar vessels. The more immature erythrocytic cells were observed adhered to the vessel walls and the more mature ones were distributed through the central area. On marrow films, the erythrocytic immature cells showed a round shape with a fine nuclear chromatin pattern, while the mature cells were smaller, with an eliptic shape and a dense chromatin pattern.