reticulocyte

reticulocyte /re·tic·u·lo·cyte/ (rĕ-tik´u-lo-sīt) a young erythrocyte showing a basophilic reticulum under vital staining.

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re·tic·u·lo·cyte (r-tky-l-st)

n.

An immature red blood cell containing a network of basophilic filaments and occurring during the blood regeneration.

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Reticulocyte

An early, immature form of a red blood cell. Over time, the reticulocyte develops to become a mature, oxygen-carrying red blood cell.

Mentioned in: Pernicious Anemia, Reticulocyte Count

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reticulocyte

[ritik′yələsīt′]

Etymology: L, reticulum + Gk, kytos, cell

an immature erythrocyte characterized by a meshlike pattern of threads and particles at the former site of the nucleus. Reticulocytes normally account for less than 2% of the circulating erythrocytes. A greater proportion reflects an increased rate of erythropoiesis in response to hypoxemia. Compare erythrocyte. See also normoblast.

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reticulocyte [rĕ-tik´u-lo-sīt″]

a young erythrocyte showing a basophilic reticulum under vital staining.

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reticulocyte (ritik´ylōsīt´),

n an immature erythrocyte. Reticulocytes normally account for less than 2% of the circulating erythrocytes.

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reticulocyte

a stage of erythrocyte maturation, between normoblast (metarubricyte) and mature erythrocyte, showing a basophilic reticulum (residual RNA) under vital staining.

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corrected reticulocyte percentage (CRP)

percentage reticulocytes ÷ (hematocrit ÷ normal hematocrit); a measure of reticulocyte numbers adjusted for the degree of anemia.

reticulocyte count

performed on blood mixed with a supravital stain such as new methylene blue or brilliant cresyl blue. An increased count indicates active erythropoiesis.

reticulocyte production index (RPI)

corrects the reticulocyte count, taking into account the presence of anemia and the presence of shift reticulocytes producing a more accurate indicator of red cell production.

reticulocyte response

the release of reticulocytes in response to erythropoietin or administration of specific therapy for anemia, e.g. a deficiency of iron or folic acid. A reticulocyte response does not develop until the anemia is marked in cattle and not at all in horses.

shift reticulocyte, stimulated reticulocyte

with intense stimulation of erythropoiesis there is premature release of reticulocytes from the bone marrow into peripheral blood. These are larger and contain more reticulum than normal reticulocytes.