Reticulocytes in peripheral blood smear (human)

Stain: Brilliant cresyl blue. The blue stained reticulum strands and aggregates (1) are ribosomal residues in the young red blood cells that just have expelled their nuclei. The reticulocytes are not to be confused with large Heinz bodies. Heinz bodies (↓, arrows) are red cell inclusions composed of denatured haemoglobin, generally attached to the cell membrane. They can be demonstrated with supravital dyes. Heinz bodies occur in hemoglobinopathies, chemically induced hemolytic anemia, after splenectomy. They are not observed in normal subjects since they are removed by the spleen by pitting.