Characteristics of Reticulocytes (Polychromasia)

Reticulocytes

  • Although the nucleus has been extruded, the reticulocyte is still considered immature because it retains numerous organelles needed for hemoglobin production, such as ribosomes, mitochondria, and fragments of the Golgi apparatus.
  • The reticulocyte is slightly larger (10 microns) than the mature erythrocyte.
  • A reticulocyte normally remains in the bone marrow for one or two days before entering the circulation and its final 24 hours of maturation. The red cell is mature when hemoglobin production is complete and the organelles have disintegrated.
  • Reticulocytes normally make up 0.5 - 1.5% of the peripheral blood red cells.
  • They appear blue/gray on the Wright's stained smear. The residual RNA in the cytoplasm causes the blue/gray color.
  • The terms, polychromasia or polychromatophilic, are used to describe these cells on a Wright's stained preparation. A supravital stain such as new methylene blue N or brilliant cresyl blue is used to stain reticulocytes for an actual count.

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