title: Evaluation of the polymorphonuclear cell functions of bottlenose dolphins.
abstract: The functions of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) are the important non-specific defense mechanisms in the immune system. Especially marine mammals are protected by these mechanisms from the aquatic environment with a large variety of microorganisms. Therefore, we examined the PMN functions of bottlenose dolphins in order to obtain the normal ranges and to standardize the techniques. PMNs were isolated by using lymphocyte isolate solution whose density was 1.077; superoxide production was assessed by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test (NBT) and phagocytosis was tested by using polystyrene latex beads. We showed that the optimal incubation time was 30 min in NBT assay and 12 hr in phagocytosis assay for dolphin PMNs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery, Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsura
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asaki
authors.forename: Terumasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Fumihito
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ohashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004289:Dolphins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D013481:Superoxides; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium