What are basophils?
Q: What are basophils?
A: Basophils are rare granulocytes in the blood that contain large cytoplasmic granules and make up only 1-30 out of 10,000 white blood cells.
Q: What do basophil granules do?
A: Basophil granules hide the cell nucleus from sight when stained, but when unstained, the nucleus is visible and usually has two lobes. The granules also store histamine, a chemical that is secreted by the cells when stimulated.
Q: What is the mast cell?
A: The mast cell is another granulocyte that is similar in appearance and function to the basophil. Both cell types store histamine, but they come from different cell lines. Mast cells usually do not circulate in the blood stream, but instead stay in connective tissue.
Q: How do both basophils and mast cells work?
A: It is not well understood how basophils and mast cells work, but they both have protein receptors on their cell membrane which binds IgE, an immunoglobulin involved in macroparasite defence and allergy.
Q: What is the significance of basophils being basophilic?
A: Basophils are called basophilic because they are stained by basic dyes, as shown in the illustrations.
Q: Where are basophils found in high numbers?
A: Basophils are found in unusually high numbers at sites of ectoparasite infection, for example, by ticks.
Q: How do basophils travel from the blood to tissue when needed?
A: Like all circulating granulocytes, basophils go from the blood into tissue when needed.
