enucleated

Enucleated is the adjective describing something that has had its nucleus removed. It also refers to the surgical removal of an entire eyeball (the globe) in medical contexts. The verb enucleate means to remove the nucleus. The term is used across biology, medicine, and biotechnology.

Cellular enucleation occurs in development or experimental procedures. In mammals, red blood cells lose their nucleus during maturation in the bone marrow, becoming enucleated to increase space for hemoglobin and improve flexibility. Mammalian erythrocytes lack a nucleus and most organelles. In contrast, red blood cells of many non-mammalian vertebrates retain their nucleus. Platelets are also enucleated cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes.

In reproductive technology and cloning, enucleation describes the removal of a cell's nucleus, such as enucleation of oocytes to prepare for somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Ocular enucleation is a surgical procedure to remove the globe, typically to treat malignant tumors (such as intraocular melanoma), severe trauma, painful blind eye, or infection. The procedure involves detaching the optic nerve and removing the eyeball; a prosthetic eye is placed in the orbit. Alternative procedures include evisceration (removal of contents while preserving sclera) and exenteration (removal of eyeball and adjacent structures). Risks include infection, socket deformity, and, historically, sympathetic ophthalmia.