Three types of non-phagocytic granulocytes, basophil, eosinophil and small eosinophilic granulocyte, were observed in peripheral blood of whip stingray Dasyatis akajei (Dasyatidae, Myliobatiformes, Batoidea, Elasmobranchii). Basophils had four types of granules (BG) in the cytoplasm. The type A BG (BG-A) were rod-shaped and stained light blue with May-Grunwald. Other types (type B: BG-B) were round and show red (BG-Ba), violet (BG-Bb) or purple (BG-Bc). The BG-Ba were localized around nucleus. Two types of granules were observed in eosinophils. One was rod-shaped eosinophilic granules (EG-A), and other was round chromophobic (EG-B). Small eosinophilic granulocytes also had two types of granules (SEG): SEG-A, subangular to anglar in shape and eosinophilic； SEG-B, round chromophobic. All types of non-phagocytic granulocytes lacked alkaline phosphatase, ϐ-glucuronidase and peroxidase. However, acid phosphatase (AcP) and several types of esterase were detected in those granulocytes. Both EG-A and SEG-A were hematoxylin (Mayer’s) positive, but positive reaction in AcP staining preparation was different: SEG-A, positive； SEG-A, nagative.
stingray
Dasyatis akajei
non-phagocytic granulocyte
morphology
cytochemistry