Scanning electron-microscopic and light-optic investigations of erythrocytes in toxic anaemia.

Detailed assessment of the peculiarities of erythrocyte morphology by applying scanning electron microscopy and light-optics methods gives valuable information on the age characteristics, functional failures of the erythrocyte, pathogenesis of anaemia, and also diagnosis. In toxic anaemia caused by the chronic effect of lead and chlorobenzene there is accumulation of aging erythrocytes in blood that are spherical with rough and folded surfaces, fragmented with protuberances, processes, crypt-like hollows, and holes. In lead intoxication there is increased destruction of erythrocytes; anaemia caused by chlorobenzene is mainly due to a decreased entry of the young forms of the erythrocyte into the blood. Light-optics investigation combined with scanning electron microscopy allows a quantitative calculation of erythrocytes with abnormalities of form and surfaces. This may be used as an additional diagnostic test as part of the haematological examination of patients with anaemia.

[Morphologic features of erythrocytes in normal subjects and in anemia caused by lead poisoning (electron microscopic study)]. / Morfologicheskie osobennosti eritrotsitov v norme i pri anemii, vyzvannoi intoksikatsiei svintsom (elektronno-mikroskopicheskoe issledovanie).

The methods of scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to study erythrocytes from normal subjects and those suffering from anemia of lead poisoning genesis. Erythrocytes from normal subjects were shown to have predominantly convex-concave and biconcave shapes. An insignificant portion of ageing erythrocytes of spherical shape and decreased volume had granular surface and consolidated hemoglobin. Normally, in addition to the above-mentioned cells, erythrocytes with an abnormal relief occur: with perforating openings, crypt-like recesses, tubercles and processes. In anemia, the number of atypical erythrocytes increased many-fold. The process of sequestration and fragmentation of hemoglobin-containing particles is one of the mechanisms of anemia development.