Electronic measurement of erythrocyte volume and volume heterogeneity in horses during erythrocyte regeneration associated with experimental anemias.

The research studies the effect of anemia on the erythrocyte (red blood cell) volume and variability in horses. Experimental anemia was induced in three groups by different methods,and subsequent changes in various parameters such as hematocrit, mean cell volume, and erythrocyte number were examined.

Methodology

• The researchers artificially induced anemia in three groups of horses. The conditions for anemia were created by moderate or severe acute hemorrhage, and by inducing hemolysis using acetyl phenylhydrazine.
• They used a multichannel automated blood cell counter with histogram capability to conduct serial hemograms, which are comprehensive blood tests.

Observations

• Important parameters like hematocrit (ratio of the volume of red cells to the total volume of blood), mean cell volume, erythrocyte number, red cell distribution width, and standard deviation of erythrocyte volume were closely monitored.
• An increase in mean cell volume was first noticeable by days 17, 20, and 14 for Groups I, II, and III respectively. This was interpreted as a sign of accelerated erythrocyte regeneration.
• However, not all horses with accelerated regeneration had changes in mean cell volume, indicating that effective regeneration can occur without macrocytosis (presence of large red blood cells in the blood).
• After other parameters returned to normal levels, mean cell volume still remained elevated, suggesting that it could hint at a history of altered erythrocyte turnover.

Conclusion

• The standard deviation of erythrocyte volume, indicating anisocytosis (variation in size of red blood cells), was highest during the initial part of the regenerative response.
• The red cell distribution width increased significantly only in the severe hemorrhage and hemolysis groups, implying that severe conditions may cause greater variability in the cell distribution width.
• Ultimately, the study emphasizes on the complexity of erythrocyte regeneration process as it varies among individual horses and cannot solely be predicted by a single parameter like mean cell volume.