Blood smear analysis in wild-type C57BL/6N mice and heterozygous B-Hbb-bt KO, Hbb-bs KO mice. The blood smear analysis results showed that the red blood cells of heterozygous B-Hbb-bt KO, Hbb-bs KO mice (H/+) were inconsistent in size, with an enlarged central pallor. There was also a significant presence of abnormal, fragmented and nucleated red blood cells such as schistocytes (1), serrated erythrocytes (2), shadow cells or schistocytes (3), echinocytes or spiky/burr cells (4), target-like codocytes (5), spherocytes (6) and mouth-shaped stomatocytes (7).

The organs of Female wild-type C57BL/6N mice and heterozygous B-Hbb-bt KO, Hbb-bs KO mice (8-week-old, n=6). Compared with C57BL/6N mice, there was significant increase in spleen weight of heterozygous B-Hbb-bt KO, Hbb-bs KO mice. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. Significance was determined by one-way ANOVA test.  *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***p < 0.0001.