INTRODUCTION TO WHITE BLOOD CELLS

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INTRODUCTION TO WHITE BLOOD CELLS

• developed by
• Liz Fracalanza
• Tina Goodyear
• Hugh B. Fackrell
• Dept of Biological Sciences
• University of Windsor
• Windsor, ON Canada

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OBJECTIVES

• To examine the formed elements of blood
• To define the structure and function of the
  cellular elements
• To differentiate between the various blood cells
  

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Introduction

• Blood may be separated into a clear fluid
  composed of either serum or plasma and formed
  elements which contain cells and cell fragments
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Formed Elements of Blood

• Leucocytes (white blood cells)
• Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
• Thrombocytes (platelets)

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Frequency of W.B.C in Human Blood

• WBC number/mm3
• neutrophil 54-69 2700-6900
  
• lymphocyte 25-33 1250-3300
• monocyte 3-7 150-700
• eosinophil 1-3 50-300
• basophil 0-0.75 0-75
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Structure and function of the cellular elements
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NEUTROPHILS

• Characteristics
• Ultrastructure
• Functions
• Distribution

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Neutrophil Characteristics

• Diameter 9 -16um
• Cytoplasm pink
• Nucleus 2-5 lobes,dark blue
• Life-span 5 days
• Granules present(not visible)
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Neutrophil Functions

• Respond chemotactically to various stimuli
  (complement, lymphokines and bacterial membrane
  components)
• Phagocytosis of foreign particles and microbes
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Distribution of Neutrophils

• Approximately one-half of the neutrophils found
  in the body are attached to the endothelial
  lining of the blood vessels, poised to cross the
  blood vessel wall and attack an infection
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EOSINOPHILS

• Light microscopy
• Ultra structure
• Functions

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Eosinophil Characteristics

• Diameter 10 - 15 um
• Cytoplasm pink-grey
• Nucleus purple, bi-lobed
• Life-span 1 day
• Granules Many, large, bright orange/red
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Eosinophil Ultrastructure
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Eosinophil Function

• Chemotactic response to complement, antibodies
  and histamine
• Active against parasites by phagocytosis and
  secretion of granular contents
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BASOPHILS

• Characteristics
• Ultrastructure
• Functions

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Basophil Characteristics

• Diameter 10 -15 um
• Cytoplasm basophilic (blue)
• Nucleus not usually seen
• may be lobed
• Granules many, large,
• dark purple,
• covers nucleus
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Basophil EM
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Basophil Ultrastructure
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Basophil Functions

• Secretes substances during an allergic reaction
• Secretes large amounts of heparin, which is an
  anticoagulant
• Secretes histamine, which participates in
  constriction of the blood vessels, bronchioles
  and intestines
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LARGE LYMPHOCYTES
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Large Lymphocyte Characteristics

• Diameter 10 - 18 um
• Cytoplasm sky-blue - deep-blue
• may be vacuolated
• Nucleus mono-nuclear,
• dense chromatin, dark
  blue
• Granules may be few

Nucleus/cytoplasm ratio is 11
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SMALL LYMPHOCYTES
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Small Lymphocyte Characteristics

• Diameter 6-10 um
• Cytoplasm sky-blue - dark-blue
• Nucleus round, oval, blue
• Life-span about 10 years
• Granules none - few

Nucleus/cytoplasm ratio is 41
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Lymphocyte Ultrastructure
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Lymphocyte Function

• Lymphocytes can behave as one of
• three major cell types
• 1. T lymphocytes
• 2. B lymphocytes
• 3. Natural Killer cells

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T LYMPHOCYTES

• Helper T Cells
• Cytotoxic T cells

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T cell Ultrastructure
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Helper T lymphocytes

• aids in stimulation of antibody production by
  B-lymphocytes

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Cytotoxic T lymphocytes

• Destroy invading cells or cancer cells by direct
  contact.
• Induce apoptosis

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B Lymphocytes

• production and secretion of antibodies
• participation in memory immunity
• once transformed into a plasma cell, it contains
  more rough endoplasmic reticulum

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Plasma Cell
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Natural Killer Cells

• Directly destroys virally infected cells and
  tumour cells

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Null Cell
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MONOCYTES
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Monocyte Characteristics

• Diameter 12-20um
• Cytoplasm light grey-blue,
• may be vacuolated
• Nucleus purple, patchy
• (mesh-like)
• Life-span 3 days
• Granules fine May not be visible)
• Nucleus Cytoplasm (NC) 11
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Monocyte Functions

• Phagocytosis - ingests and destroys fungi,
  bacteria and damanged or degenerated cells
• Stimulates the immune response by presenting the
  products of phagocytosis to lymphocytes
• Attracts neutrophils to the damaged site by
  secreting chemical attractants
• Aids in maintenance of blood vessels
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Monocyte Ultrastructure