Platelet count and blood smear morphology. After hydrodynamic injection, mice were regularly sampled and complete blood counts were performed. Seven days after hydrodynamic injections, samples were also obtained for blood smear examination. (A) Platelet count at each time point. Each symbol represents one mouse. (B) Time course of platelet count after hydrodynamic injection. Data are mean ± SEM. (C) Typical blood smear from a mouse expressing the V1316M mutation. A large platelet aggregate is circled within which there are a number of enlarged platelets. Blood smears were observed using an Olympus BX60 transmitted microscope fitted with a UPlanApo 40× oil objective. Microscopic images were captured using a Nikon DXM1200 camera and Nikon Act-1 software. Photoshop (Adobe) was used to manipulate the blood smear images.