| Description |
Scheme electron microscopy. Basophils are non-phagocytic granulocytes that account for 0.5% to 1.0% of the circulating white blood cells. Their granulated cytoplasm stains with basic dyes, hence the name basophil. Electron microscopy reveals a multilobed nucleus (1); few mitochondria (2); numerous glycogen granules (3); and electron-dense membrane-bound granules (4) scattered throughout the cytoplasm. (5) Golgi area. The characteristic large and coarse granules contain pharmacologically active mediators and precursors such as heparin, histamine, sulphated proteoglycans, leukotrienes, as well as enzymes such as neutral proteases, acid hydrolases, cathepsin G, and carboxypeptidase. In contrast to the myelin figure-like inclusions in the mast cell the basophilic granules vary in size and shape and are more regular granular-filamentous. |
