Retikülosit

Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells. They are the stage just before a red blood cell matures into a fully functional erythrocyte. Reticulocytes are characterized by the presence of residual ribosomal RNA, which gives them a slightly bluish appearance under a microscope when stained with certain dyes, a phenomenon known as polychromasia. This RNA is a remnant from the process of hemoglobin synthesis. Normally, red blood cells mature and extrude their ribosomes within one to two days before entering the bloodstream as mature erythrocytes. The presence of reticulocytes in peripheral blood is a normal finding, as it indicates that the bone marrow is actively producing red blood cells. A reticulocyte count is a common laboratory test used to assess bone marrow function and the effectiveness of erythropoiesis, the process of red blood cell production. An elevated reticulocyte count typically suggests that the bone marrow is responding to a need for more red blood cells, such as in cases of anemia due to blood loss or hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells). Conversely, a low reticulocyte count can indicate a problem with red blood cell production, such as in aplastic anemia or certain nutritional deficiencies.