THE MORPHOLOGY AND CYTOCHEMISTRY OF THE BLOOD LEUKOCYTES OF KEMPS RIDLEY SEA-TURTLE (LEPIDOCHELYS-KEMPI)

Blood leukocytes of Lepidochelys kempi were examined by bright-field microscopy and cytochemistry for the determination of glycogen, lipids, and several hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes. Mature large and small eosinophils and small lymphocytes were the principle leukocytes encountered; basophils were rarely seen, and neutrophils and monocytes were not demonstrated. The large eosinophils contained two types of granules and demonstrated periodic acid - Schiff (PAS) reactivity and some sudanophilia. The large eosinophils also possessed alkaline phosphatase, myeloperoxidase, adenosine triphosphatase, and some nonspecific esterase activity. The small eosinophils demonstrated acid phosphatase. No reactivity for beta-glucuronidase, aryl-sulfatase, or for the oxidative enzymes, succinate, lactate, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases, or cytochrome oxidase, occurred in the large or small eosinophils. Small lymphocytes contained a few PAS-positive granules or intracellular particles; some nonspecific esterase activity but no reactivity for other hydrolytic or oxidative enzymes or for neutral lipids was observed.