Figure 3.

Neutrophils. Rabbit neutrophils are rounded cells with a diameter of 10 to 15 μm. The nucleus of rabbit neutrophils is distinctly segmented and stained a deep purple-blue; the segments are connected by thin strands of chromatin. In the clear cytoplasm, variable numbers of granules can be seen, ranging in size and color (small and pink or large and reddish). The relative number of each granule population may alter the staining characteristics of the cell. In some cases, laboratories report rabbit neutrophils as heterophils or acidophils because of the deep pink to red stained granules in the cells. Regardless of how the cells are labeled, there is no functional difference between the cells.