Black Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) Hemopoiesis: Analysis by Flow Cytometry and Light Microscopy

Cell suspensions of head kidney and spleen of black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus L.) have been studied using flow cytometry and light microscopy. On the basis of forward scatter (FS) and side scatter (SS) distribution and light microscopy, two main types of cells in the hemopoietic organs were identified: "small cells" (5.1-8.9 mm) and "large cells" (10.8-15.3 mm). Subpopulation of small cells was formed by thrombocytes, lymphocytes, and elements with functionally inactive nuclei. Euchromatin level in their nuclei was low and acidophilic cytoplasm corresponded to negligible nucleic acids content. No proliferative activity was observed using SYBR Green I fluorescence analysis. Morphological characteristics of these cells coincided with colony forming units of mammals. Large cells in head kidney consisted of two subpopulations of cells differing in granularity and DNA content. Proliferating blast cells and differentiating cells of all hemopoietic lines were identified among them. Macrophages and apoptotic cells were also detected in head kidney. In spleen large cells cluster mainly included aged red blood cells with extended lengthwise axis. Blast cells and differentiating elements in spleen were not observed. Anat Rec, 300:1993-1999, 2017. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.