Abstract
The dynamics of HbF-containing erythroblasts in hereditary spherocytosis was studied before and after splenectomy. The analysis was performed by employing a classification of erythroblasts based on their cell cycle as well as by use of the fluorescent antibody technique.
Results obtained were as follows:
1) Before splenectomy, a marked erythroid hyperplasia with early denucleation of HbF-containing erythroblasts was observed in bone marrow and large numbers of stress reticulocytes appeared in peripheral blood.
2) The erythroid hyperplasia in bone marrow and reticulocytosis in circulating blood were normalized after splenectomy.
3) Influences of splenectomy on HbF-containing cell line were the decrease in precursor erythroblasts and the increase in later erythroblasts. This results in a temporary increase of HbF-containing erythrocytes in peripheral blood.
From these findings, it is proposed that splenectomy causes the diminution of red cell destruction and suppresses the overproduction of erythropoietin. The decrease in erythropoietin or the improvement of tissue hypoxia may inhibit the differentiation of stem cells to HbF-containing proerythroblasts and may promote the further differentiation of later erythroblasts having HbF, without early denucleation. Moreover, these evidences may be important in clarifying the hematological responses to splenectomy in hypersplenism.
