title: Surface immunoglobulin on granular and agranular leukocytes in the thymus and spleen of the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina.
abstract: Spleen and thymus suspensions from the turtle, Chelydra serpentina were examined by indirect immunofluorescence and found to contain both agranulocytes and granulocytes positive for surface Ig. Among the splenic agranulocytes , 50% of the lymphocyte and monocyte population was positive for surface Ig. In the thymus only 7% of the thymocytes were positive. Ninety-two percent of the granulocytes, composed primarily of basophils and eosinophils, were positive for surface Ig in both the thymus and spleen. The presence of surface immunoglobulins on turtle splenic leukocytes was confirmed by sheep red blood cell (SRBC) immunization studies. Basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes from immunized turtles formed SRBC rosettes, while eosinophils from immunized turtles were found to specifically phagocytose SRBC. Splenic leukocytes from control turtles did not phagocytose or rosette with SRBC. This study demonstrates that indirect immunofluorescent techniques can be used to identify surface immunoglobulin on turtle granulocytes as well as agranulocytes .
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D014426:Turtles / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell