Structure and Function of Blood Cells (Strom) Flashcards
Describe the process of looking at blood cells with a microscope.
- Get blood
- Put in a tube with EDTA to keep it from clotting
- Put a drop of it on a slide
- Use another slide to spread the clot out
- let it dry
- Stain (with “wright-giemsa” stain)
Describe the properties and components of the wright-giemsa stain.
- Eosin is the main component and is aromatic/acidic/negatively charged.
- It is soluble in ethanol NOT H2O.
- Stains hydrophobic and basic macromolecules (i.e. Hgb)
What is a variants of eosin-Y that is capable of binding to amine groups for use with flow cytometry?
FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate)
What cells are rare in peripheral blood (<5% of leukocytes) and are elevated in the context of allergic reactions and infections with parasites?
eosinophil
In what context do the numbers of eosinophils increase in number?
allergic reactions and infection with parasites
What cell type is identified with methylene blue staining?
basophil
Describe the properties of methylene blue stain.
- aromatic and basic
- soluble in water or methanol
- stains hydrophobic acidic macromolecules (i.e. nucleic acids)
What cells are rare in peripheral blood (<1% of leukocytes) and degranulates in allergic reactions?
Basophil
What other cell are basophils related to?
tissue mast cells
What cell types binds little of eosin or methylene blue?
neutrophils
What color do the cytoplasmic granules of neutrophils stain?
light pink
What is the life span of a neutrophil?
<1 day
Normally, neutrophils make up __-__% of leukocytes but can increase ___ fold during infections.
40-70%; 10 fold
What are NETs?
neutrophil extracellular traps: the chromatin of dead neutrophils kill pathogens and can assist in controlling sepsis *also may contribute to sepsis-assc conditions like pre-eclampsia
Knowing the __(cell type)__ count is essential in evaluating any infectious disease.
Neutrophil
What are the mechanisms that neutrophils use as weapons/tactics?
Phagocytosis, degranulation, NETs
What mediator do neutrophils secrete which can lyse bacteria?
lysozyme
How can a monocyte be distinguished from a lymphocyte on a smear?
monocytes often have bent or ameboid nuclei while the nuclei of lymphocytes is more round
Monocytes are ___-___% of blood leukocytes.
3 to 8%
T or F: All macrophages in tissues are derived from monocytes.
F: most but not all
What is the role of monocytes?
phagocytose and present Ag on MHC class II to lymphoctes (which is usually done in the lymphatic system)
Lymphocytes are ___-___% of lood leukocytes.
20 to 30%
What is the life span of a lymphocyte?
days to years
What are the types of lymphocytes and which one is more predominant
T cells > #s B cells and NK