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(pathology) A crenated red cell which has a distinctive spiky outline.

A red blood cell characterized by multiple spiny cytoplasmic projections and found in acanthocytosis. Also called acanthrocyte.

An erythrocyte with protoplasmic projections giving it a thorny appearance; may be seen in dogs with liver disease and related disturbances of lipid metabolism and in dogs with hemangiosarcoma. Morphologically similar to spur cells, but biochemically distinct. See also spur-cell anemia.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: an abnormal red blood cell that has thorny projections of protoplasm

Acanthocyte is a general term meaning 'spiny cell'. AKA "spur cell" in more severe cases

• In human biology and medicine, the term refers to pathological red blood cells, which are coarse and irregularly crenellated resembling many-pointed stars. They are seen on blood films in, among others, lipid abnormalities, liver disease, chorea acanthocytosis, McLeod syndrome and several inherited neurological disorders, such as neuroacanthocytosis.

• In veterinary medicine, Acanthocytosis may be seen in dogs with liver disease or hemangiosarcoma.

• In mycology, the term also refers to stellate cells found on the hyphae of fungi of the genus Stropharia. Recent work, published in 2006, on those of Stropharia rugosoannulata has shown them to have nematode-killing properties.^[1]

Notes

1. ^ Hong Luo, Xuan Li, Guohong Li, Yanbo Pan, and Keqin Zhang (2006). "Acanthocytes of Stropharia rugosoannulata Function as a Nematode-Attacking Device". Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72 (4): 2982–2987. doi:10.1128/AEM.72.4.2982-2987.2006. (inactive 23 June 2008). PMID 16598005, http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1449000. 

External links

• Acanthocyte: Presented by the University of Virginia
• MeSH A11.118.290.330.100
• Slide at marist.edu

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