engleski

Gender differences in red blood cell morphometry parameters in corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus)

Blood profiles, which includes haematology parameters provide a useful tool to assess the physiological status of reptiles that may be influenced by several internal and environmental factors. In the available literature, data on blood morphometric parameters in snakes are not available or are very scarce. Therefore, the aim of current study was to determine the values of red blood cell (RBC) morphometric size and shape parameters and to investigate the differences in RBC morphometric parameters between genders in corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus). Blood samples, from 7 snakes (3 males ; 4 females), were taken from the ventral tail vein. The smears were confectioned on slides immediately after the blood collection and stained according to the May-Gründwald Giemsa method. Morphometric analyses were performed on 700 RBCs in stained blood smears using SFORM computer-assisted program. Following morphometric RBCs and RBCs nucleus size, parameters were determined: area, outline, convex area, minimal and maximal radius, length and breadth, as well as calculated morphometric RBCs shape parameters: ellipticity, elongation, solidity, roundness, form factor, contour index. Significantly higher values of RBCs maximal radius, length, ellipticity and elongation were established in females, respectively. Conversely, significantly higher values of RBCs nucleus maximal radius and length were determined in male snakes. In conclusion, males had significantly wider erythrocytes with a longer nucleus, and females, on the contrary, more elongated, elliptical erythrocytes with a wider nucleus. Knowledge of physiological morphometric parameters of snake RBC and physiological differences within the species is a prerequisite for the correct interpretation of pathologically altered erythrocyte morphology.

snakes, erythrocytes, morphometric analysis, sex differences

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