Thiazole orange-positive platelets in cats with thrombocytopenia induced by cyclophosphamide

摘要

Evaluation of platelet production is required to determine the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia, which may be caused by impaired production or increased utilisation of platelets (Dale and others 1995). However, quantitative measurements of platelet production are not routinely available, although production can be inferred by the evaluation of megakaryocytes in bone marrow aspirates or sections. Immature platelets contain increased cytoplasmic concentrations of RNA which can be detected using thiazole orange. This is a dye which binds to RNA and emits fluorescence. The percentage of reticulated platelets in the total circulating platelets is significantly higher in human beings with thrombocytopenia and adequate megakaryocyte poiesis when comparedwith those in healthy humans and human throm-bocytopenic patients with impaired megakaryocyte poiesis.