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Codocytes, also known as target cells or Mexican hat cells, are red blood cells that have the appearance of a shooting target with a bullseye. In optical microscopy these cells appear to have a dark center (a central, hemoglobinized area) surrounded by a white ring (an area of relative pallor), followed by dark outer (peripheral) second ring containing a band of hemoglobin. However in electron microscopy they appear very thin and bell shaped. Because of their thinness they are referred to as leptocytes and because of the wavy bowl shape they are referred to as Mexican hat cells. On routine smear morphology, some people like to make a distinction between leptocyes and codocytes- suggesting that in leptocytes the central spot is not completely detached from the peripheral ring, i.e. the pallor is in a C shape rather than a full ring.〔Clinical Hematology: Theory and Procedures, Volume 936 By Mary Louise Turgeon, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 07-Dec-2004 - Chapter 6, p 103of 570〕 These cells are characterized by a disproportional increase in the ratio of surface membrane area to volume. This is also described as a "relative membrane excess." It is due to either increased red cell surface area (increased beyond normal), or else a decreased intracellular hemoglobin content (which may cause an abnormal decrease in cell volume without affecting the amount of membrane area). The increase in the surface area to volume ratio also gives the cell decreased osmotic fragility, as it allows it to take up more water for a given amount of osmotic stress. In vivo (within the blood vessel), the codocyte is a bell-shaped cell. It assumes a "target" configuration only when processed to obtain a blood film. In the film these cells appear thinner than normal, primarily due to their pallor (by which thickness is judged on microscopy).〔William's Haematology, 7th Edition〕 ==Causes== Target cells may appear in association with the following conditions: * Liver disease: Lecithin—cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity may be decreased in obstructive liver disease. Decreased enzymatic activity increases the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio, producing an absolute increase in surface area of the red blood cell membranes. * Alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia (hemoglobinopathy) * Hemoglobin C Disease * Post-splenectomy: A major function of the spleen is the clearance of opsonized, deformed, and damaged erythrocytes by splenic macrophages. If splenic macrophage function is abnormal or absent because of splenectomy, altered erythrocytes will not be removed from the circulation efficiently. Therefore, increased numbers of target cells may be observed. * Autosplenectomy caused by sickle cell anemia In patients with obstructive liver disease, lecithin cholesterol acetyltransferase activity is depressed, which increases the cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratio and produces an absolute increase in the surface area of the red cell membrane. In contrast, membrane excess is only relative in patients with iron-deficiency anemia and thalassemia because of the reduced quantity of intracellular hemoglobin.〔 When a cell membrane collapses it becomes static and stops pulsating.〔innovateus.net〕 Target cell formation decreases the amount of oxygen that is circulated through the blood and unable to deliver it to all areas of the body.〔e.howhealth.com〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Codocyte」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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