IN dogs given iproniazid (‘Marsilid’) it was observed that Brecher's method¹ for counting reticulocytes very clearly showed the presence of Heinz bodies², which yielded a method for demonstration of both Heinz bodies and reticulocytes in the same preparation³. Since, to the best of my knowledge, nothing is known of the possible occurrence of Heinz bodies and reticulocytes in lower vertebrates, I performed a corresponding investigation with the lizard Uromastix acanthinurus. As staining technique the method of Brecher¹ was used according to Thompson's method³. The erythrocytes appeared to be stained a pale greenish-blue, while the reticulum was deep blue and sharply outlined. The Heinz bodies stood out prominently against the pale-green background of the erythrocytes and were pale to deep blue. As in the dog erythrocytes³, these bodies were stained at least as well as by the usual methods^2,4,5. As these results correspond very well with those obtained in the dog³ a more general importance should no doubt be attached to it.

Affiliations

1. Department of Histology, Free University, Amsterdam

   • A. STOLK

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Publication history

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/193594a0

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