Variability in leucocyte profiles in Passer domesticus. Effect of fasting.

RONCHI GD; CHEDIACK, JG; CID, FD; PADRONES MN; ARIAS RJ; CAVIEDES-VIDAL E

San Juan

Congreso; Segunda Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biología de la República Argentina; 2011

Sociedad Argentina de Biologia - Sociedad de Biologia de Cuyo - Sociedad de Biologia de Cordoba

VARIABILITY IN LEUCOCYTE PROFILES IN Passer domesticus. EFFECT OF FASTING.Ronchi GD, Chediack JG, Cid FD, Padrones N, Arias R, Caviedes-Vidal E. Laboratório de Biología Integrativa. IMIBIO-SL. CONICET. UNSL. San Luis. ArgentinaFluctuations in food supply are the rule in nature. The animal immune system changes during fasting period. In birds, starvation is characterized into three sequential phases (F1, F2, F3) that are defined by physiological changes, among biochemical parameters. A classical method to determine immunological state is measuring leucocyte profiles. Our objective was to determine the effect of fasting on distribution of leucocyte types and the development of heterophils/lymphocytes (H/L) ratio in Passer domesticus. To test our goal, twenty Passer domesticus were acclimated to laboratory conditions, water and food ad libitum, and regulated temperature. Since, repeated blood sampling affect hematological parameters we established four independents groups of birds: control and three fasting groups F1: 4hs, F2: 12hs and F3: 32hs. Blood samples were collected from brachial vein and smears were stained by the May Grünwald Giemsa technique. A total of 100 leucocytes were classified by slide. The differential count included relative percentages of lymphocytes (L), heterophils (H), eosinophils and monocytes. We found a higher number of lymphocytes and eosinophils at 32 hs of fasting, but not for heterophils. The ratio H/L, which is indicative of stress, increases at 32 hs of fasting. In conclusion, chronic fasting (F3) produce a stress situation and changes immunological status of animals.