Fate of Erythrocytes Containing Heinz Bodies in the Spleen and Liver of Dogs and Turkeys

Abstract

Abstract. Similar phagocytic and digestive events involving erythrocytes containing HEINZ bodies occured in KUPFFER cells and splenic macrophages of the dog. The earliest stage was confinement of a nonhemolyzed red blood cell by the membrane of a phagocytic vacuole. Next, there was leaching of hemoglobin into the phagocytic vacuole, followed by fragmentation and loss of the erythrocytic membrane. A round phagocytic vacuole containing hemosiderin was the fate of phagocytized erythrocytes containing HEINZ bodies.There were HEINZ bodies in both the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm of turkey erythrocytes. Such erythrocytes occurred in phagocytic vacuoles of KUPFFER cells and splenic macrophages and evolved through a process similar to that occurring in canine tissue, except that a single vacuole often contained one or more erythrocytes. HEINZ bodies were first described in 1890 [3], but there still is not agreement as to their nature and disposition. The popular opinion is that they be an insoluble denaturative product of hemoglobin [4,7,8], be composed of repeating electron-dense units [7], and be removed by the reticuloendothelial system [&lo]. It is known that erythrophagocytosis is accomplished in KUPFFER cells and that the digestion of erythrocytes occurs within phagocytic vacuoles [2]. Erythrocytes containing HEINZ bodies are phagocytized 'in a like manner [8,10]. However, the entire sequential process of disposal of HEINZ bodies in macrophages of the liver and spleen has not been resolved. This paper reports an ultrastructural study in dogs and turkeys of phagocytosis of erythrocytes containing HEINZ bodies and the reconstruction of the orderly procession of events leading to the ultimate fate of HEINZ bodies in macrophages of the liver and spleen.

Weathered MC252 crude oil-induced anemia and abnormal erythroid morphology in double-crested cormorants ( Phalacrocorax auritus ) with light microscopic and ultrastructural description of Heinz bodies

“…Heinz bodies found in avian RBCs exhibit some morphologic differences compared to those found in mammals including decreased total numbers, decreased size and a lack of membrane association. The lower numbers and smaller size of HB in cormorant erythrocytes upon examination by electron microscopy in the present study is consistent with previous findings in turkeys (Simpson, 1971). The classic cytoplasmic button typical of the mammalian Heinz body was rarely found in NMB preparations from cormorants, but rather small, oval to irregularly shaped, light blue inclusions were found throughout the cytoplasm (Fig.…”

“…Heinz bodies are removed from RBCs by the reticuloendothelial system, especially in the spleen by histiocytic cells in mammals and birds (Olah et al, 2014;Simpson, 1971;Sugawara et al, 2010). When HB are removed by histiocytic cells the entire RBC may be removed from circulation, resulting in an extravascular hemolytic anemia.…”