Granulopoiesis in the head-kidney of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.): an ultrastructural study.

The ultrastructure of granulopoiesis in the head-kidney of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), an euryhaline seawater teleost, was studied. The heterophilic, acidophilic and basophilic series consisting of promyelocyte, myelocyte, metamyelocyte and mature granulocyte stages are described. The granulopoietic pattern was similar to those of higher vertebrates but dissimilar to those of some other fish, suggesting that the vertebrate granulopoietic scheme was probably conserved during the evolution of at least some teleost species. Very scare presumptive blast cells were present. The heterophilic series showed three types of granules that might correspond to nucleated, azurophil and specific granules which have been described in neutrophils from mammals and human bone marrow. Neither a crystalloid nor a dense core was found in the granules of acidophilic granulocytes, where an occasional light zone could be seen. The scarce cells of the basophilic series showed similar characteristics to those described in other fish species.