Blood, 1959, Vol. 14, No. 12, pp. 1339-1344.
© 1959 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Plasmoptysis and Gelation of Erythrocytes in Coagulation
of Blood of Freshwater Bony Fishes
KEN WOLF 1
1 Eastern Fish Disease Laboratory, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Kearneysvilie, W. Va.
1. A clot-like material which results from very rapid plasmoptysis and
hydrophyllic swelling of karyoplasm of erythrocytes from freshwater fish
was reported. This attribute was found to a lesser degree in erythrocytes from
an amphibian, but it was almost lacking in those of an aquatic reptile.
2. Rapid clotting of fish blood with the usual clinical methods was confirmed in this work. Fish blood clotted more quickly with the slide test than
with the capillary tube test. In the presence of water, complete coagulation
of fish blood occurred in only 65 per cent of the time required for clotting
to be completed in air. This speed is attributed to the water-erythrocyte reaction, and not to a quality of the plasma.
3. An attempt was made to correlate the findings with the need for
hemostasis and blood coagulation that is peculiar to aquatic vertebrates.
Submitted on September 17, 1958
Accepted on June 28, 1959
