Lecture Notes on Electroblasts

Overview of Electroblasts

• Different types of electroblasts exist with unique functions and appearances.
• Types include:
  • Early Normal Blast (Erythroblast Pro)
  • Intermediate Normal Blast
  • Late Normal Blast (Late Erythroblast)
• Late normal blast resembles nucleated red blood cells (NRBC).

Characteristics of Electroblasts

• Size and Shape:

  • Erythroblasts are large cells similar in size to RBCs.
  • The nucleus is laid down flat.

• Function:

  • The primary function of chroblast is to synthesize hemoglobin.
  • Cytoplasm appears basophilic due to the abundance of mRNA but lacks hemoglobin initially.

• Cell Structure:

  • Prominent nucleoli present in early stages indicating active mRNA synthesis.
  • The Golgi apparatus is also prominent throughout development.

Types of Electroblasts Characteristics

1. Early Erythroblast (Pro Erythroblast):

   • Prominent nucleoli.
   • Basophilic cytoplasm.
   • Large cell size.

2. Early Erythroblast:

   • Stippled nucleolus (less distinct than Pro Erythroblast).
   • Presence of Golgi apparatus.
   • Bluish cytoplasm.

3. Intermediate Normal Blast:

   • Cytoplasm exhibits a mixture of red and blue (polychromatic).
   • Less prominence of nucleoli compared to earlier stages.

4. Late Normal Blast:

   • Nucleated cells resembling RBCs, but retained nuclei.
   • Less basophilic as they transition to producing hemoglobin.

Microscopic Examination

• Focus on the appearance of the nucleus and cytoplasm to differentiate between types of electroblasts:
  • Pro Erythroblast: Clear nuclear area, bluish nucleus, presence of nucleoli.
  • Early Erythroblast: Stippled chromatin pattern, Golgi apparatus, blue cytoplasm.
  • Intermediate Normal Blast: Chromatin has a polychromatic appearance, less clear than NRBC.

Importance of Cell Count

• Counting different types is not always necessary but can be critical for pathogenesis studies.
• Understanding the normal types aids in diagnosis and provides insight into abnormal conditions.

Summary

• Essential to recognize the characteristics of various electroblasts for diagnostic and educational purposes.
• Become familiar with microscope images to correctly identify cell types and their respective characteristics.