Morphological and Morphometric Variations of Erythrocytes in Clarias Gariepinus, Bufo Bufo, and Agama Agama Using Some Histological Stains

Erythrocytes are highly specialized and the most abundant cell type in vertebrates’ blood. Their primary function is the transportation of oxygen to tissues of the body via hemoglobin.

The study was aimed at evaluating erythrocyte morphology in Clarias gariepinus (C. gariepinus), Bufo bufo (B. bufo), and Agama agama (A. agama) using different stains; Also, morphometric analysis of erythrocytes was evaluated in stains with the best affinity. The blood samples of C. gariepinus, B. bufo, and A. agama were collected using a syringe. Smears from each animal were made on glass slides and stained with Giemsa, Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and methylene blue. Erythrocytes diameter was measured using a standardized ocular micrometer. The area and volume of the erythrocytes were calculated.

Erythrocyte’s shapes range from spherical in C. gariepinus to oval in A. agama. Giemsa demonstrated C. gariepinus and B. bufo erythrocytes better than H&E and methylene blue stains, while H&E demonstrated erythrocytes of A. agama better than Giemsa and methylene blue. Erythrocyte’s diameter, area, and volume of B. bufo were significantly higher (P<0.001) when compared with C. gariepinus and A. agama.

Erythrocyte’s shape, size, area, and volume vary in different species and could be used to study evolutionary trends. The variation in erythrocytes size is associated with chromosome number and genome size.