Cetacean Intracytoplasmic Eosinophilic Globules: A Cytomorphological, Histological, Histochemical, Immunohistochemical, and Proteomic Characterization

Antonio Fernández; Nakita Câmara; Eva Sierra; Manuel Arbelo; Yara Bernaldo de Quirós; Paul D. Jepson; Rob Deaville; Josué Díaz-Delgado; Cristian Suárez-Santana; Ayoze Castro; Julia N. Hernández; Ana Godinho

doi:10.3390/ani13132130

Animals (Jun 2023)

Cetacean Intracytoplasmic Eosinophilic Globules: A Cytomorphological, Histological, Histochemical, Immunohistochemical, and Proteomic Characterization

Antonio Fernández,
Nakita Câmara,
Eva Sierra,
Manuel Arbelo,
Yara Bernaldo de Quirós,
Paul D. Jepson,
Rob Deaville,
Josué Díaz-Delgado,
Cristian Suárez-Santana,
Ayoze Castro,
Julia N. Hernández,
Ana Godinho

Affiliations

Antonio Fernández: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Nakita Câmara: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Eva Sierra: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Manuel Arbelo: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Yara Bernaldo de Quirós: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Paul D. Jepson: Zoological Society of London, Institute of Zoology, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
Rob Deaville: Zoological Society of London, Institute of Zoology, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
Josué Díaz-Delgado: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Cristian Suárez-Santana: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Ayoze Castro: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Julia N. Hernández: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain
Ana Godinho: Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Transmontaña, s/n, 35416 Arucas, Canary Islands, Spain

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132130
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 13
p. 2130

Abstract

Read online

The nature, etiopathogenesis, and clinicopathologic relevance of the prevalent intracytoplasmic eosinophilic globules (IEGs) within hepatocytes of cetaceans are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the presence and characterize the IEGs in the hepatocytes of cetaceans using histochemical and immunohistochemical electron microscopy, Western blot, lectin histochemistry, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques. A total of 95/115 (83%) animals (16 species) exhibited histologically evident intracytoplasmic round to oval, single to multiple, hyaline eosinophilic globules within the hepatocytes. These globules were largely PAS-positive, diastase resistant, and were immunopositive for fibrinogen (FB, 97%), albumin (Alb, 85%), and α1-antitrypsine (A1AT, 53%). The IEG positivity for FB and A1AT were correlated with live-stranding, hepatic congestion and a good nutritional status. The cetaceans lacking IEGs were consistently dead stranded and had poor body conditions. The IEGs in 36 bycaught cetaceans were, all except one, FB-positive and A1AT-negative. The IEGs exhibited morphologic and compositional variations at the ultrastructural level, suggesting various stages of development and/or etiopathogenesis(es). The glycocalyx analysis suggested an FB- and A1AT-glycosylation pattern variability between cetaceans and other animals. The proteomic analyses confirmed an association between the IEGs and acute phase proteins, suggesting a relationship between acute stress (i.e., bycatch), disease, and cellular protective mechanisms, allowing pathologists to correlate this morphological change using the acute hepatocytic cell response under certain stress conditions.

Published in Animals

ISSN: 2076-2615 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture: Veterinary medicine; Science: Zoology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords