Is this a white blood cell?

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:12 pm

I used an 40x objective. The red arrow indicates what I am referring to. From a Google search it sure seem like it.

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:24 am

The one your arrow points at could also be an erythrocyte having assumed the "thorn-apple" shape, like that one in the lower RHS corner (my red arrow).
There are other structures that would make candidates for being interpreted as white blood cells in a LM photo (my green arrows).

--Betty

Pau · Post by **Pau** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:59 am

I fully agree with Betty.
The "thorn-apple" or crenulated erythrocytes are a symptom of dehydratation of the sample, for exemple when water beguins to evaporate. Put a drop of concentrated saline solution and all them will become crenulated because the osmotic shock.

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:28 am

Did not know that. Thanks for the detailed explanations.

Tom Jones · Post by **Tom Jones** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:13 am

Yep. Red arrows are "crenated" (generally accepted hematology term in the US) red blood cells, green arrows are white blood cells. Crenation can occur in vivo, but is often an artifact.

Tom

Pau · Post by **Pau** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:17 am

Thanks Tom for the correction.

ChrisLilley · Post by **ChrisLilley** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:19 pm

pwnell wrote:I used an 40x objective. The red arrow indicates what I am referring to. From a Google search it sure seem like it.

No, but you do have two leukocytes in your (unstained) sample. Normally they are easier to spot as the nuclei stain a purple-blue colour.

Your blood filmis also a bit thick. Its easier to see individual shapes towards the tail of a smear.

Is this a white blood cell?

Is this a white blood cell?

Re: Is this a white blood cell?