Coculture of chicken thrombocytes and monocytes: morphological changes and lectin binding.

Chicken leukocytes were separated from blood on a Percoll cushion following adherence on coverslips, resulting in a coculture of thrombocytes and monocytes. This system was characterized by light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, by lectin binding and actin localization in thrombocytes. During the first 24 hours nuclear condensation, cytoplasmic shrinkage, detachment and death of thrombocytes were observed. In contrast, monocytes gradually increased their spreading capacity, specially after thrombocyte detachment from the coverslips. During culture, a large number of fucose and beta-galactose residues were expressed on the surface of thrombocytes, revealed by the lectins Ulex europaeus I and Arachis hypogaea, respectively. Labeling of the monocyte surface with several lectins also increased with the cultivation time. Thrombocytes showed the formation of a net with actin involvement.