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3 Erythrocyte maturation

FIGURE 3–1 Erythrocyte sequence—pronormoblast.

Pronormoblast

Proerythroblast

Rubriblast

FIGURE 3–2A Pronormoblast.

FIGURE 3–2B Schematic of pronormoblast.

FIGURE 3–2C Electron micrograph of pronormoblast (×15,575).

Size:

12-20 μm

Nucleus:

Round to slightly oval

Nucleoli:

1-2

Chromatin:

Fine

Cytoplasm:

Dark blue; may have prominent Golgi

N/c ratio:

8:1

Reference interval:

Bone marrow:

1%

Peripheral blood:

0%

FIGURE 3–3 Erythrocyte sequence—basophilic normoblast.

Basophilic normoblast

Basophilic erythroblast

Prorubricyte

FIGURE 3–4A Basophilic normoblast.

FIGURE 3–4B Schematic of basophilic normoblast.

FIGURE 3–4C Electron micrograph of basophilic normoblast (×15,575).

Size:

10-15 μm

Nucleus:

Round to slightly oval

Nucleoli:

0-1

Chromatin:

Slightly condensed

Cytoplasm:

Dark blue

N/c ratio:

6:1

Reference interval:

Bone marrow:

1% to 4%

Peripheral

Blood: 0%

FIGURE 3–5 Erythrocyte sequence—polychromatic normoblast.

Polychromatic normoblast

Polychromatic erythroblast

Rubricyte

FIGURE 3–6A Polychromatic normoblast. The blue color of the cytoplasm is becoming gray-blue as hemoglobin is produced.

FIGURE 3–6B Schematic of polychromatic normoblast.

FIGURE 3–6C Electron micrograph of polychromatic normoblast (×15,575).

Size:

10-12 μm

Nucleus:

Round

Nucleoli:

None

Chromatin:

Quite condensed

Cytoplasm:

Gray-blue as a result of hemoglobinization

N/c ratio:

4:1

Reference interval:

Bone marrow:

10% to 20%

Peripheral blood:

0%

FIGURE 3–7 Erythrocyte sequence—orthochromic normoblast.

Orthochromic normoblast

Orthochromic erythroblast

Metarubricyte

FIGURE 3–8A Orthochromic normoblast. The gray-blue color of the cytoplasm is becoming salmon as more hemoglobin is produced.

FIGURE 3–8B Schematic of orthochromic normoblast.

FIGURE 3–8C Electron micrograph of orthochromic normoblast (×20,125).

Size:

8-10 μm

Nucleus:

Round

Nucleoli:

0

Chromatin:

Fully condensed

Cytoplasm:

More pink or salmon than blue

N/c ratio:

0.5:1

Reference interval:

Bone marrow:

5% to 10%

Peripheral blood:

0%

FIGURE 3–9 Erythrocyte sequence—polychromatic erythrocyte (reticulocyte).

Polychromatic erythrocyte

Diffusely basophilic erythrocyte

Reticulocyte

FIGURE 3–10A Polychromatic erythrocyte. Sometimes appears “lumpy.” Slight gray-blue color persists while the cell attains full hemoglobinization.

FIGURE 3–10B Scanning electron micrograph of polychromatic erythrocyte (×5000). Note that the reticulocyte is a very deformable cell, giving it a “lumpy” appearance by scanning electron microscopy.

Size:

8-8.5 μm

Nucleus:

Absent

Nucleoli:

NA

Chromatin:

NA

Cytoplasm:

Color is slightly more blue/purple than the mature erythrocyte

N/c ratio:

NA

Reference interval:

Bone marrow:

1%

Peripheral blood:

0.5% to 2.0%

Note:

When stained with supravital stain (e.g., new methylene blue), polychromatic erythrocytes appear as reticulocytes (contain precipitated ribosomal material; see Figure 12-5A).

FIGURE 3–11 Erythrocyte sequence—erythrocyte.

Erythrocyte

FIGURE 3–12A Erythrocyte. The mature erythrocyte has lost the blue-gray color and is salmon colored as hemoglobinization is complete.

FIGURE 3–12B Scanning electron micrograph of erythrocyte (×2500).

Size:

7-8 μm

Nucleus:

Absent

Nucleoli:

NA

Chromatin:

NA

Cytoplasm:

Salmon with central pallor of about one-third of the diameter of the cell

N/c ratio:

NA

Reference interval:

Bone marrow:

NA

Peripheral blood:

Predominant cell type

FIGURE 3–13 Erythrocyte sequence with (A) pronormoblast, (B) basophilic normoblast, (C) polychromatic normoblast, (D) orthochromic normoblast, (E) polychromatic erythrocyte, and (F) erythrocyte.

All photomicrographs are ×1000 original magnification with Wright-Giemsa staining unless stated otherwise.

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