RED BLOOD CELLS

OR
ERYTHROCYTES

The process of
formation of RBCs is
called Erythropoiesis
 RBC Formation before birth

– At 3rd week of gestation - Yolk sac

• At 6 weeks - Liver mainly but Spleen

& lymphoid tissues also form red
blood cells.
 RBC Formation before birth

• From the third month onwards - the

bone marrow gradually becomes the

principal source of the RBCs

• After birth – Bone marrow exclusively

 RBC Formation after birth
• The bone marrow of all bones - 5 years
• Marrow of the long bones & membranous
bones - 6-20yrs
• After 20, (adults) most red cells continue
to be produced in the marrow of the
membranous bones, such as
– Vertebrae, Sternum, Ribs, and Ilium
cranium & the proximal ends of humerus
and tibia
Haemopoiesis
ERYTHROPOIESIS (7 to 9 days)
PHSC

CFU-E
Proerythroblast Bone marrow

basophil erythroblast 5-7 days

Polychromatophil erythroblast
Orthochromatophil erythroblast
Reticulocyte
Blood 1-2 days
Erythrocyte.
 RBC development is
characterized by:

1.Decrease in cell size

2.Disappearance of nucleus &
other cell organelles
3.Appearance of hemoglobin
Large oval cell No hemoglobin Nucleus and nucleoli(80%
of cell)The cytoplasm stains deep blue (basophilic due to
high RNA content) It multiplies several times and forms
early normoblast
Hb synthesis starts

Slightly smaller Show mitosis two times forming

4 polychromatophil erythroblast Cytoplasm
deep blue

Cell further smaller Nucleus smaller Hemoglobin is

detected Eosinophil Stain &RNA – Basophil stain

Nucleus smaller Pyknosis Nuclear extrusion

Hemoglobin increases so acidophilic

Reticulum due to remnants of disintegrated organelles

such as mitochondria, golgi and ER . Reticulocyte leave
bone marrow & enter blood through diapedesis
 Transfer of RBC to Circulation
RBC pass from the
bone marrow into the
blood capillaries

By

Diapedesis
(squeezing through the
pores of the
capillary membrane).
. Summary of
erythropoiesis
 Erythrocytes “erythros= red
• Round, biconcave.
• Non nucleated
• Red due to Hb

• Diameter 7.5 µm.

• Thickness 2 µm
 Normal shape of RBCs
• The biconcave contour of red blood cells
has the following mechanical advantages:

➢unique shape provides:

➢ 30% more surface area and thinness
of membrane causes more rapid
diffusion of oxygen and other
substances
➢Can deform easily and can pass
through the tight capillaries
• The major peripheral protein is spectrin
and it binds with other peripheral proteins
such as actin and ankyrin to form a
skeleton of microfilaments on the inner
surface of the membrane. This
strengthens the membrane and gives it its
elastic properties.
• Spectrin ankyrin & actin form biconcave
shape
 Hereditary spherocytosis
• Hereditary disease
due to deficiency or
abnormality of either
spectrin or ankyrin so
loss of biconcave
shape so spherical
RBCs so are ruptured
when pass through
tight capillaries of
spleen
 Factors responsible for
erythropoiesis
1. Erythropoietin
2. Vitamins
3. Proteins
4. Metals
5. Intrinsic factor
6. Hormones
7. Growth factors
 Erythropoietin
• The total number of red blood cells
remains relatively constant due to a
negative feedback mechanism utilizing
the hormone erythropoietin,
Glycoprotein
• 90% from kidneys & 10% liver
• Stimulate erythropoiesis
• In the absence of erythropoietin
hypoxia has little or no effect to
stimulate red blood cell production
• Level of erythropoietin is decreased
in chronic renal disease
• So these patients develop anemia
 Dietary Factors Affecting Red
Blood Cell Production
• Vitamins B12 and folic acid (vitamin B9) They are essential
for DNA synthesis so in their absence there is failure of nuclear
maturation and division so maturation failure in erythropoeisis
• The blood shows macrocytes
• RBC lost their biconcave disc shaped and are more fragile and
rupture
• Vit B6 and B5 for heme synthesis
• Vit C : reduces Fe+++ to Fe++ to facilitate its absorption
• Intrinsic factor: for Vitamin B12 absorption
 Hormones
1. Androgens
2. Thyroid hormones
3. Glucocorticoids
 Metals
1. Iron
2. Copper
3. Cobalt
4. Zinc
5. Manganese
6. Nickle
They are required for heme synthesis
 Hemopoietic growth inducers
• They are growth inducers inducing
proliferation of pluripotent stem cells
TYPES
• Interleukin 3 secreted by T lymphocyte
• Interleukin 6 also by T lymphocytes,
endothelial cells and macrophages
• Interleukin 11 secreted by osteoblast.
 Differentiation inducers
• Don’t promote growth but causes one type
of committed stem cell to differentiate one
or more steps toward s final adult blood
cell
• Example: transforming growth factor
(TGF) and insulin growth factor