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Ultrastructural alterations in thrombocytes of the snake Waglerophis merremii after Activation by ADP

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Abstract

The ultrastructure of the resting thrombocytes of the snake Waglerophis merremii and the process of ADP aggregation are studied. These thrombocytes are nucleate, ellipsoidal, and contain a marginal band. Endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes are few. An open canalicular system, Golgi complex, granules resembling the alpha-granules in human platelets, and structures similar to secondary lysosomes are also present. The activation response of W. merremii thrombocytes to ADP is examined and compared to the morphological alterations in human platelets. The thrombocytes, normally ellipitical in shape, become spheroid with cytoplasmic protrusions, and adhere to one another. The open canalicular system undergoes dilation and the granules cluster at the centre of the thrombocytes. The release reaction of these granules occurs after stimulation by ADP, similar to what happens in human platelets. This similarity may suggest a process of evolutional specialization since thrombocytes in the majority of non-mammal vertebrates are not aggregated by ADP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brasil

    I. S. Sano-Martins

  2. Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brasil

    C. Jared & A. Brunner Jr.

Authors
  1. I. S. Sano-Martins
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  2. C. Jared
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  3. A. Brunner Jr.
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Sano-Martins, I.S., Jared, C. & Brunner, A. Ultrastructural alterations in thrombocytes of the snake Waglerophis merremii after Activation by ADP. Comp Haematol Int 4, 226–231 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185178

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