Original scientific paper
Toxicological significance of erythrocytic inclusions bodies
T. Beritić
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja Jugoslavenske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti Zagreb
Abstract
Determination of inclusion bodies in the erythrocytes (basophilic stiopling. Heinz bodies, and iron-containing particles) has been described as a simple clinical tool for the recognition and appraisal of the exposure to toxic chemicals None of these phenomena is confined solely to the exogenous toxic influence. However, their significance with regard to the diagnosis and prevention of incipient intoxications, is emphasized. The hypotheses of the origin and the microchemistry of stippling are recorded and discussed. The changes in erythroblasts in the bone marrow in human lead poisoning are briefly reported. The evidence that the phenomenon of stippling results from the fault in the development of the red cell precursors in the bone marrow is supported not only by the findings in lead poisoning but also by the identical finrlings in certain cases of acquired haemolitic anaemia due to the faulty haemoglobin synthesis and showing basophilic stipplina in the peripheral blood. Both conditions are due to an endogenous mechanism of dyshaemopoiesis. Through an example·of the field research work in a lead mine and a smelting plant it is shown how the enumeration of stippled cells may reveal the degree of individual and collective exposure to lead in miners and in smellers respectively. Clinical data and toxic chemicals producing Heinz bodies in humans and animals are listed. The literature is reviewed dealing with the individual and species differencis in the incidence of Heinz bodies. The spontaneous occurrence of Heinz bodies as observed by various authors in the newborn infants with and without splenic pathology is discussed. The occurrence of Heinz bodies in the erythrocytes of normal cats (“Schmauch's bodies”) due to the unknown endogenous facor has been studied. The incidence of affected erythrocytes was found to vary between 0.3 and 96.1 per cent. These differences were not related to the age of animals. Spleneciomy, performed in 4 animals did not result in any difference in the number of affected cells before and after operation. The number of erythrocytes containing Schmauch's bodies found in the blood of vena lincalis was approximately equal to that of arteria lineals. The value of experimental production of Heinz bodies in vitro is described. particularly in the prevention of the injury to the red cells which may appear in the course of treatment with chemotherapeutics. The morphology of stainable iron particles in erythrocytes and erythroblasts is described and the relationship of the siderotic granules to the granules of basophilic stippling in lead poisoning is discussed.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
184155
URI
Publication date:
10.6.1957.
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