What is characteristic of glitter cells found in hypotonic urine?

Glitter cells are a specific type of white blood cell, typically neutrophils, that appear in hypotonic urine. The defining characteristic of glitter cells is the Brownian movement of granules within their cytoplasm. In a hypotonic environment, the cells tend to swell due to excess water, which leads to the movement of granules that can be observed under a microscope. This motion is a result of the suspension of granules in the cytoplasm that appear to be agitated or in constant motion, a phenomenon known as Brownian movement.

This distinct motion helps to identify glitter cells during a microscopic examination of urine. Brownian movement occurs because the granules are smaller particles that are being randomly displaced by the molecules in the surrounding fluid, indicating their presence and the cell's response to the hypotonic conditions. Other characteristics of glitter cells, such as their cytoplasmic appearance, may vary but do not define them as clearly as the observable granule movement.