title: Blood platelets of the African elephant.
abstract: Platelet counts of 22 elephants varied between 229 x 10(9) and 622 x 10(9)/L. Light microscopy showed the platelets to be small, while electron microscopy revealed well preserved but activated platelets with some morphological differences from other mammalian platelets. Dense bodies, alpha-granules, glycogen and mitochondria were present in most sections. Microtubules and the surface connecting canalicular system appeared to be absent, but numerous filamentous structures and Golgi bodies were observed.
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004606:Elephants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary