The lymphocytic basophilia after incubation of blood smears in distilled water.

The incubation of peripheral blood smears in distilled water frequently used for the control of the digestion with ribonuclease produced distinct changes of basophilic ribonucleic acid containing structures in peripheral lymphocytes. The alteration of these structures was apparently produced by the activity of the endogenous ribonuclease since it was reduced or prevented by the lowering of the temperature or addition of the ribonuclease inhibitor. In addition, marked differences were found between peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy persons and patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with respect to the sensitivity of lymphocytic basophilia to the incubation in distilled water.