Cytochemical reactions in bovine and ovine lymphosarcoma

Cytochemical reactions with a panel of special stains were explored in peripheral blood and lymph node cells of animals with the adult, calf, and thymic types of bovine lymphosarcoma as well as lymphosarcoma in sheep induced with the bovine leukosis virus. These results were compared with normal lymphoid cells. Cytochemical methods included Sudan black B, periodic acid-Schiff, acid phosphatase and three esterases. Cells from ovine lymphosarcomas and a thymic type of bovine lymphosarcoma were distinctively positive to the alpha naphthyl acetate esterase reaction. These cytochemical reactions which were obtained with standard cytochemical methods should aid in the characterization and classification of lymphoproliferative disorders in animals, especially when combined with immunologic surface markers.