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Eosinophilic granule cells in Carassius auratus scale epidermis
Author(s) -
DePasquale Joseph A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/azo.12184
Subject(s) - biology , motility , staining , granule (geology) , lamella (surface anatomy) , epidermis (zoology) , carassius auratus , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , paleontology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , genetics
Eosinophilic granule cells ( EGC s) were characterized in Carassius auratus scale epidermis in situ and in explants. Live EGC s were readily identified by the presence of numerous large cytoplasmic granules observed with DIC microscopy. Histochemical staining with toluidine blue and alcian blue yielded granule metachromasia and pale blue granules, respectively, both consistent with mammalian mast cell staining. However, EGC s also share some features with mammalian basophils as neutral red dye was selectively incorporated into EGC granules. EGC s within scale epidermis were actively motile, displaying average speeds of 16 μm/min and maximum speeds of greater than 40 μm/min and showing morphological plasticity during migration. The predominant motile phenotype was elongate with a well‐developed leading lamella, while a broader body motile morphology was observed to a lesser extent. A trailing, relatively unchanged uropod was associated with every motile EGC and invariably contained one or a few granules. A rounded EGC shape without a leading‐edge or trailing uropod was also observed and was generally associated with static cells. Individual cells readily switched between the three major shapes during motility; static cells could abruptly develop a polarized morphology, and actively motile cells switched between elongate and broad‐bodied shapes or the static, rounded shape.