Blood platelets of the African elephant

Platelet counts of 22 elephants varied between 229 x 10(9) and 622 x 10(9)/L. Light microscopy showed the platelets to be small, while electron microscopy revealed well preserved but activated platelets with some morphological differences from other mammalian platelets. Dense bodies, alpha-granules, glycogen and mitochondria were present in most sections. Microtubules and the surface connecting canalicular system appeared to be absent, but numerous filamentous structures and Golgi bodies were observed.