DEGENERATIVE CHANGES IN LEUCOCYTES 35 



nuclear cells usually somewhat smaller than large mononuclears, 

 but are sometimes very large. The round or oval nucleus is rela- 

 tively small and is generally excentric. The cell body is strongly 

 basophile and frequently contains minute vacuoles, giving the 

 cell a honey-comb structure. These cells are apparently de- 

 generative forms of mononuclears and are found in the blood in 

 various inflammatory conditions. 



DEGENERATIVE CHANGES IN LEUCOCYTES 



It is important in making a histological examination of blood 

 to note the degenerative changes in the leucocytes as well as in 

 the red corpuscles. Among the more common changes observed 

 are those in the nuclei. Sometimes they appear swollen and stain 

 less deeply; again the lobes of the nuclei are shrunken and have 

 an irregular contour. The nucleus may consist of several separate 

 divisions, each of which stains deeply. The nucleus may show 

 hydropic degeneration. In severe leucocytosis one often finds 

 leucocytes with the cell bodies ruptured, the granules scattered 

 and the nucleus pale. Vacuoles may be found in the cell bodies. 

 Small or larger, rounded, purplish granules with Wright's or 

 Jenner's stain may be observed in lymphocytes and in polymorphs 

 as well as in large mononuclears, as was mentioned in describing 

 the latter variety. In acute leucocytosis a diminished number of 

 the granules in polymorphs is often seen. 



Glycogenic degeneration is observed in certain conditions. It 

 consists in the presence of glycogen granules in the leucocytes, 

 especially the polymorphs. Locke and Cabot have applied the 

 term iodophilia to this condition. A certain amount of extra- 

 cellular glycogen may be found in normal blood. The reaction 

 consists in finding glycogen in leucocytes and in an increased 

 amount as extracellular masses. A positive reaction according to 

 Locke and Cabot signifies a general toxemia such as might be 

 produced by abscess, gangrene, uremia or malaria and has been 

 observed in local and general infection with pyogenic organisms, 

 in toxemia of bacterial origin, in non-bacterial toxemia, e. g., 

 uremia, in disturbances of respiration and in grave anemia both 

 primary and secondary. The reaction (Barnicot) does not run 

 parallel to leucocytosis other than having a common cause; its 



