Micro-spherulation

Abstract

Red cells can lose frag ments of different sizes, some large enough to be seen quite easily with the light microscope, others somewhat smaller and visible only with the electron microscope, still others so small as to be detectable only biochemically. This fragmentation occurs in response to changes in the microenvironment or intrinsic changes in the cell itself or both. It results in a decrease in the surface-to-volume ratio of the cell. If the process continues, the cell ultimately becomes spherical, hence no longer deformable, and lyses when passing through small capillaries.