A BRIGHT-FIELD AND PHASE-CONTRAST STUDY OF THE LEUKOCYTES IN HEMIDACTYLUS-TURCICUS (REPTILIA, GEKKONIDAE)

The morphology of the peripheral blood leukocytes of Hemidactylus turc icus is examined and carefully described in Wright-Giemsa stained bloo d films, and in the living condition by phase-contrast microscopy, emp loying supravitally-stained preparations. Mature eosinophils, basophil s, and small lymphocytes occur in the blood. In addition, developmenta l stages in eosinophil differentiation and basophilic myelocytes and m etamyelocytes are sometimes seen. Medium lymphocytes are occasionally observed. Neutrophils are not seen; very rarely are monocytes observed . This study provides a basis for the cytochemical study of these cell s which has its foundation in morphology.