Animal Blood Cells Linnea Tracy, Stanford class of ’15

Jennifer Johns DVM, Ph.D, DACVP, Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University

http://saypeople.com/2011/06/05

/red-blood-cells/#axzz1rxIZ5AOi

Three platelets, giant platelet

Goat monocyte

Guinea pig lymphocyte

Cow lymphocyte with granules

Hawk thrombocyte Dog platelet clump

Dog lymphocyte

Chameleon monocyte

Dog monocyte

Squirrel monkey basophil

Rhesus monkey basophil

Rabbit basophil

Horse eosinophil

Cat eosinophil

Dog eosinophil

Mouse neutrophil

Gorilla neutrophil

Hamster neutrophil

Snake red blood cells have

nuclei

Red blood cells are ‘biconcave’

(indented on both sides) causing

the center of the cell to look clear

on a blood film (above)

Llamas, alpacas, and camels

have oval red blood cells

Dog red blood cells

Wright's stain is employed to stain blood smears. It

exploits acidic and basic interactions with the cells to

make cellular characteristics visible. The typical

components are Eosin Y, Methylene Blue, and Azure B.

Neutrophils are the cells

primarily responsible for killing

bacteria. They have cytoplasmic

granules that stain poorly.

Eosinophils combat parasites

and allergens, and contain

cytoplasmic granules that stain

vibrant pink/orange with Eosin.

Basophils regulate allergic

responses and release

anticoagulants. They contain

granules that stain deep purple.

White blood cells, or leukocytes, are the cells of the immune system and include five subtypes:

Lymphocytes combat viral

infections and produce antibodies.

Their nuclei are rounded. Some

cells contain granules. Guinea pig

lymphocytes have Kurloff bodies.

Monocytes are precursor cells to

macrophages, cells responsible

for killing fungi and recycling cell

materials. Their nuclei are horse-

shoe to amoeba-like in shape.

Platelets, or thrombocytes in

non-mammals, are the cell

fragments that form blood clots.

They are sticky and tend to form

clumps in a blood smear.

There are 3 main types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

In mammals, white blood cells have nuclei but red blood cells and platelets do not.

In non-mammals, all blood cells contain nuclei, and platelets are called thrombocytes. Red blood cells, or erythrocytes,

are cells filled with hemoglobin,

the compound responsible for

carrying oxygen in the body.

To examine blood cells, a drop of blood is smeared

onto a glass slide. The slide will be stained and

viewed under a microscope.