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