Heinz Body Anemia: An Ultrastructural Study. II. Red Cell Sequestration and Destruction

This study reports electron microscope observations on the process of redcell sequestration and destruction in the spleen and liver of the phenylhydrazine-treated rabbit. Damaged red cells are recognized by virtue oftheir Heinz bodies, a morphologic manifestation of the oxidative injury whichthey have sustained. Sequestration, in the spleen, involves the selective accumulation of damaged cells within the vascular spaces of the Billroth cords.Erythrophagocytosis and the intracellular digestion of red cells followssequestration. More severely injured cells may undergo intravascular hemolysiswithin the splenic red pulp. In the liver, however, no evidence for the intravascular sequestration of injured red cells is observed. Damaged cells areremoved directly from the sinusoidal blood by erythrophagocytosis. Theselectivity of spleen and liver for red cells subjected to different degrees ofinjury is discussed in terms of the observed differences in the vasculararchitecture of the two organs.

Submitted on November 15, 1964 Accepted on November 22, 1964