title: Use of a two-step Percoll gradient for separation of loggerhead sea turtle peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: In order to determine a suitable procedure for isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), blood was collected using three different anticoagulants (sodium heparin, sodium citrate or potassium EDTA) and separated using a single step commercially-prepared arabinogalactan gradient of 1.077 g/ml density or multiple step Percoll gradients between 1.053 and 1.076 g/ml density (40-60% stock isotonic Percoll suspension). Heparinized blood centrifuged over a two-step 45/55% (1.059/1.070 g/ml) Percoll gradient yielded 99 to 100% mononuclear cells at the 45/55% interface. Mononuclear cell viability ranged from 85 to 97% with cell yields up to 9.2 x 10(6) cells/mL. An unexpected finding was a population of low density granulocytes migrating to 40% (1.053 g/ml) and 45% Percoll layers in the multiple step gradients. These granulocytes could be eliminated from the PBMC preparation by use of the two-step 45/55% Percoll gradient. Isolated PBMCs can be used for cellular immunology and toxicology studies on these threatened marine organisms for which other tissues can usually be obtained only sporadically from post-mortem specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA. craig_harms@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harms
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kennedy-Stoskopf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000662:veterinary; D002470:Cell Survival; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D002951:Citrates; D004492:Edetic Acid; D006493:Heparin; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000662:veterinary; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D002951:Citrates; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D006493:Heparin; D004492:Edetic Acid