Sustained thrombocytopenia in mice: serial studies of megakaryocytes and platelets

We studied thrombopoiesis in mice after the experimental induction of sustained, immune thrombocytopenia with platelet antiserum (PAS). Utilizing light and electron microscopy and a digital image analyzer to determine platelet sectional areas, we examined platelets and megakaryocytes (MK) after 120 h of sustained, severe thrombocytopenia (120CT) and during recovery from thrombocytopenia at 48 h (48R), 72 h (72R), and 120 h (120R) after cessation of administration of PAS. Mean platelet volume (MPV), determined by electrical impedance, also was measured at each time point. Platelets at 120CT (platelet count less than 50,000/microliter), 48R (platelet count 100-200,000/microliter), and 72R (platelet count approximately 1 x 10(6)/microliter) were significantly larger in sectional area than control platelets and contained increased profiles of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi cisternae, a lower concentration of surface-connected canalicular system, and occasional membrane complexes. The largest median platelet sectional area was detected at 48R and was the largest median value observed in response to either chronic or acute thrombocytopenia. At 120R, most platelets were normal in size and cytoplasmic appearance, although some large cells remained present in the circulation. MPV paralleled the morphometric changes in platelet sectional area. MK were increased in number at 120CT, 48R, 72R, and 120R. In addition, at least half of the MK examined at 48R contained small areas of cytoplasm, devoid of organelles, that were interspersed between larger areas of organelle-filled, undemarcated cytoplasm. The modal bone marrow megakaryocyte ploidy class, determined using two-color fluorescence-activated flow cytometry, shifted from 16N to 32N in response to sustained thrombocytopenia. In contrast, during recovery and development of rebound thrombocytosis, the relative frequency of 8N megakaryocytes was significantly increased. Because there was no consistent correlation between megakaryocyte cytoplasmic characteristics and platelet morphology, these data support the hypothesis that platelet formation is not determined by compartmentalization of MK cytoplasm into platelet areas as MK mature in the bone marrow, but involves a rearrangement of MK cytoplasm immediately prior to platelet release.