Ultrastructural changes in avian toxic heterophils

Abstract

In mammals, morphologic changes in peripheral blood neutrophils are often reflections of bacterial infection and severe inflammation. These light microscopic changes as evidenced by Romanowsky staining may include appearance of Döhle bodies, toxic granules, vacuolation, and cytoplasmic basophilia. Cells exhibiting such changes are referred to as “toxic” neutrophils. Studies of ultrastructural alterations in toxic neutrophils are reported and well-documented in humans (1) and dogs (2). Detailed controlled investigations of leukocyte changes in response to inflammation in birds are lacking. It was the purpose of this study to document toxic changes induced by intramuscular turpentine injection in the equivalent avian cell, the heterophil.Young adult female White Leghorn chickens were obtained and divided into 2 groups, one receiving injection with 1 ml of filter-sterilized commercial grade turpentine in the right breast muscle, and the other (controls) receiving a similar volume of sterile saline.