Morphological patterns of perturbation and recovery in populations of blood cells and their precursors : an annotated selection of publications

Abstract

The development of microscopy, coinciding with the synthesis of appropriate dyes, allowed blood cells to be differentiated one from another. The accessibility of blood cells and their extravascular precursors allowed full advantage to be taken of these techniques. As a result, information about the patterns of production and accumulation of blood cells was readily exploited in the diagnosis, management and analysis of haematological disorders. An attempt is made to elucidate the behaviour of haematopoietic cell populations, which are normally in a state of dynamic equilibrium. To obtain an insight into this equilibrium, the system was exposed to measured perturbations by endotoxin, cytotoxic drugs and X-irradiation. The analysis is based mainly on microscopical observations of cell morphology, but also includes observations on the behaviour of transplanted haematopoietic cells and the results of assays conducted to monitor changes in the stem cell compartment. In vivo and in vitro observations on radiationinduced murine myeloid leukaemias reveal similarities with the human form of the disease. Fifteen leukaemias were studied in detail with particular reference to their cellular morphology and the proliferative status of cells derived from different haematopoietic tissues. The present classified selection of publications illustrates the use and continuing importance of morphological techniques in investigations designed to provide information about the perturbation of haematopoiesis, the properties of the earliest precursors of the blood cells and the manifestations of abnormal production or accumulation in the leukaemias.