Experimental study of induced inflammation in the Brazilian Boa (Boa constrictor constrictor)

The objective of this work was to identify the cellular types present in in flammatory processes in the Brazilian snake, Boa constrictor constrictor. B lood smears were first made from three normal snakes and stained by several methods to identify the cell types present, thus facilitating the identifi cation of cells in inflammatory processes induced in 16 further snakes by t he subcutaneous implantation of cotton suture threads and circular coversli ps. Implanted threads induced migration of heterophils and monocytes after 4 h, more intense monocyte migration after 24 h, an intense granulocytic mi gration inside and around the thread after 48 h, heterophilic granulocytes, macrophages and giant cells after 7 clays, and giant cells with a typical granuloma response and persistence of heterophilic cells after 15, 69 and 1 17 clays. The cell population attached to the implanted coverslips after 4 h was composed of heterophils, thrombocytes, erythrocytes and macrophages; after 24 and 48 h heterophils predominated, and after 7 clays heterophils, macrophages and giant cells predominated. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.