Description:

The development begins with the extrusion of the normoblast nucleus and ends when the reticulocyte has lost its organelles.

Size:

8-16 µm

Cytoplasm:

In panoptic stains the cytoplasm is blue-pink. When stained by brilliant-cresyl blue, the cytoplasm shows characteristic pink fibers, remnants of the endoplasmatic reticulum.

Nucleus:

Absent.

Nucleoli

Not visible.

Clinical significance:

By determining the number of retyculocytes in the peripheral blood, the erythrocytopoietic activity of the bone marrow can be estimated. Increased number of reticulocytes is present in massive hemorrhages, destruction of erythrocytes in the peripheral blood, during successful treatment of anemia, and due to extensive production of erythrocytes in the bone marrow.