Spontaneous and oxalate-induced radial segmentation of the nuclei of lymphocytes from peripheral blood from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Radial segmentation of nuclei of lymphocytes from peripheral blood from 18 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was studied in heparinized blood samples incubated with and without oxalate, for 6 h, at 20 degrees C, and 37 degrees C. The yield of radially segmented nuclei was the same after incubation at 20 degrees C as at 37 degrees C. Treatment with sodium oxalate resulted in an increased formation of radial segmentation to the same extent at 20 degrees C as at 37 degrees C. No correlation was found between the size of the lymphocytes and the frequency of radially segmented cells. The number of radially segmented nuclei did not vary with the WBC or Hb value. Cytostatic treatment with chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide did not inhibit the formation of radially segmented nuclei.