Composition of leucocytes in peripheral blood of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides, Smitt, 1898) (Nototheniidae)

Abstract

The composition of leukocytes in the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt, 1898), caught in the Scotia Sea at a depth of more than 1000 m, was studied. Cells with various morphofunctional characteristics and cell structure were found. Lymphocytes were predominant, followed by, in decreasing order, eosinophils, monocytes, blast forms and neutrophils. The composition of leukocytes in the Patagonian toothfish consists of the same types of leukocytes as the earlier studied Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni Norman, 1937), but the percentage of white blood cells in the leukocyte formula differs between the two species.

Keywords

• Patagonian toothfish
• blood
• Nototheniidae
• leukocytes