Haematology and Plasma Chemistry of Male Lizards, Psammodromus algirus. Effects of Testosterone Treatment

Abstract

This study deals with a general description of haematology and plasma chemistry of free-living males of the lacertid lizards Psammodromus algirus subjected to an experiment of testosterone supplementation. In control lizards the number of red blood cells — 1700000 cells/µl — was smaller than those published for birds and mammals. Haematocrit and haemoglobin content were 33% and 8.4 g/dl. However, they were greater than those reported for other lizards. Testosterone treatment reduced the number of red blood cells and haemoglobin content but did not affect red cell indexes. White blood cell number was 27 000 cells/µl, a value higher than those previously published for other lizards. Lymphocytes, heterophils and azurophils counts were 22300, 3700 and 2000 cells/µl. Monocytes, eosinophils and basophils showed proportions lower than 500 cell/µl. Testosterone treatment reduced the total number of leucocytes (17000 cells/µl) and the number of lymphocytes (10000 cell/µl). Glucose plasma level was in the range published for birds — 250 mg/dl — in both control and treated lizards. Plasma proteins (3.6 g/dl), uric acid and urea (4.5 and 5.4 mg/dl, respectively) were similar to previously published values in lizards. Testosterone treatment increased only protein levels (8.2 g/dl).