Reticulocyte
255904
222281386
2008-06-28T14:14:52Z
58.98.172.84
wikified the word "anaemia"
[[Image:Polychromatic erythrocyte.png|thumb|Reticulocyte]]
[[Image:Erythrocyte.png|thumb|Erythrocyte]]
'''Reticulocytes''' are immature [[red blood cell]]s, typically composing about 1% of the red cells in the human body.
Reticulocytes develop and mature in the red [[bone marrow]] and then circulate for about a day in the blood stream before developing into mature red blood cells. Like mature red blood cells, reticulocytes do not have a [[cell nucleus]]. They are called reticulocytes because of a reticular (mesh-like) network of [[ribosome|ribosomal]] [[RNA]] that becomes visible under a microscope with certain stains such as [[new methylene blue]].
To accurately measure reticulocyte counts, automated [[flow cytometry|counters]] that use lasers mark cell samples with fluorescent dye that marks [[RNA]] and [[DNA]] (such as [[thiazole orange]]).<ref>{{cite book | author=Davis BH, Bigelow NC | year=1994 | chapter=Reticulocyte analysis and reticulocute maturity index | title=Flow cytometry. Methods in Cell Biology | volume=42 | editor=Darzynkiewicz Z, Crissman HA (eds.) | pages=263–74 | location=San Diego | publisher=Academic Press | isbn=0-12203-052-4 }}</ref> This distinguishes reticulocytes as the middle ground of dye response to laser light, between red blood cells (which have neither RNA nor DNA) and [[lymphocyte]]s (which have a large amount of DNA, unlike reticulocytes).<ref>http://www.medicaldesign.com/articles/ID/532</ref>
The normal range of values for reticulocytes in the blood depends on the clinical situation and the lab, but broadly speaking is 0.5% to 1.5%. However, if a person has [[anaemia]], their reticulocyte percentage should be higher than "normal" if the bone marrow's ability to produce new blood cells remains intact. Thus, calculating the [[reticulocyte production index]] is an important step in understanding whether the reticulocyte count is appropriate or inappropriate to the situation. This is often a more important question than whether the percentage is in the normal range; for instance, if someone is anemic but only has a reticulocyte percentage of 1%, this means that the bone marrow is likely not producing new blood cells at a rate that will correct the anemia. The number of reticulocytes is a good indicator of [[bone marrow]] activity, because it represents recent production. This means that the reticulocyte count, and the reticulocyte production index that can be calculated from it, can be used to determine whether a production problem is contributing to the anaemia, and can also be used to monitor the progress of treatment for anaemia.
The specimen requirement for a reticulocyte count is [[EDTA]] anti-coagulated whole blood (lavender-top bottle if using the [[Vacutainer]], [[Vacuette]] or [[Monoject]] systems; red-top if using the [[S-Monovette]] system).
When there is an increased production of red blood cells to overcome chronic or severe loss of mature red blood cells, such as in a [[haemolytic anaemia]], people often have a markedly high number and percentage of reticulocytes. A very high number of reticulocytes in the blood can be described as [[reticulocytosis]].
Abnormally low numbers of reticulocytes can be attributed to [[chemotherapy]], [[aplastic anaemia]], [[pernicious anaemia]], [[bone marrow]] malignancies, problems of [[erythropoietin]] production, various vitamin or mineral deficiencies (B9, B12, iron), disease states ([[anemia of chronic disease]]) and other causes of anaemia due to poor RBC production.
Reticulocytes appear slightly bluer than other red cells when looked at with the normal Romanowsky stain. Reticulocytes are also slightly larger, which can be picked up as a high MCV (mean corpuscular volume) with a full blood count done by a trained medical scientist, who has specialized in haematology, or a machine.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/hematology/HessEDD/Redbloodcelldisorders/reticulocyte.cfm Reticulocytes]: Presented by the University of Virginia
* [http://www.diagnostic-medical-tests.com/hematology-coagulation-tests/reticulocyte-count.htm For more information on Reticulocyte Count]
* {{eMedicineDictionary|Reticulocyte}}
{{Blood}}
[[Category:Blood cells]]
[[Category:Human cells]]
[[de:Erythropoese#Retikulozyt]]
[[es:Reticulocito]]
[[fr:Réticulocyte]]
[[id:Retikulosit]]
[[it:Reticolocita]]
[[he:רטיקולוציט]]
[[ja:網赤血球]]
[[pl:Retikulocyt]]
[[pt:Reticulócito]]
[[sq:Retikulociti]]
[[szl:Retikulocyt]]
[[fi:Retikulosyytti]]
[[vi:Hồng cầu lưới]]
[[tr:Retikülosit]]