title: Impala, Aepyceros melampus, platelets: count, morphology, and morphometric observations.
abstract: There is little published information regarding the platelets of impala (Aepyceros melampus). In this study we determined the platelet counts of 12 healthy adult male impalas and describe the morphology of the platelets. The platelet counts of the animals are high. Although the platelets appear to be extremely small, they have the characteristic ultrastructure of the platelets of the family Bovidae. They have few but prominent alpha-granules. Other cytoplasmic inclusions are the dense bodies, microtubules, mitochondria, and glycogen. There is no surface-connecting canalicular system present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Institute for Pathology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: du Plessis
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000866:Antelopes / Q000502:physiology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010976:Platelet Count