What is indicated by a neutrophil with a nucleus that has six lobes?

What is indicated by a neutrophil with a nucleus that has six lobes?

• A. Old cell
• B. Toxemia
• C. Female animal
• D. Normal cell

Answer: (A)

Neutrophil nuclei become more segmented as the cell ages. A six-lobed nucleus is a hypersegmented neutrophil, which is a sign that the cell is older. In a normal mature neutrophil you’d typically see about 3–5 lobes; six lobes goes beyond normal segmentation and points to an older cell rather than an immature one or a normal cell. Toxemia would produce toxic changes in neutrophils (such as Döhle bodies or toxic granulation) rather than extra lobes. The sex of the animal is unrelated to neutrophil morphology, and a normal cell would have the usual 3–5 lobes.

Neutrophil nuclei become more segmented as the cell ages. A six-lobed nucleus is a hypersegmented neutrophil, which is a sign that the cell is older. In a normal mature neutrophil you’d typically see about 3–5 lobes; six lobes goes beyond normal segmentation and points to an older cell rather than an immature one or a normal cell.

Toxemia would produce toxic changes in neutrophils (such as Döhle bodies or toxic granulation) rather than extra lobes. The sex of the animal is unrelated to neutrophil morphology, and a normal cell would have the usual 3–5 lobes.