Hemosiderin Pigments-Spleen

Hemosiderin is the iron-containing product of hemoglobin degradation. It is the iron-containing pigment of re d blood cells (erythrocytes). Hemosiderin is formed in certain cells of the liver, spleen and the bone marrow, following phagocytosis of erythrocytes (lifespan about 120 days). It is store d in form of small yellowish-brown granules. Figure a shows hemosiderin pigment in its natural color in cells of the red splenic pulp. In Figure b, the free iron in hemosiderin is visualized with Turn-bull’s blue reaction.

a) Pappenheim stain; magnification: × 160

b) Tirmann and Schmelzer variant of Turnbull’s blue reaction—the nuclei are stained with lithium carmine; magnification: × 50

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgar t · New York .