Question

Which of the following cytoplasmic granules contain histamine?
(a)Basophils
(b)Acidophils
(c)Neutrophils
(d)None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: They are a type of white blood cell. These are present in the least amount and are found in the bone marrow or bloodstream. However, they are the largest type of granulocyte. They protect the body from any infections.

Complete answer:
Basophils are liable for inflammatory reactions during an immune reaction, also as within the formation of acute and chronic allergic diseases. Basophils are granulocytes that include huge cytoplasmic granules within the nucleus and it stores histamine (a vasodilator), a chemical, which is produced by the cells when stimulated, to stimulate blood flow to tissues. Basophils also include anticoagulant heparin, which stops blood from clotting too quickly.

Additional information:
They give rise to compounds that coordinate immune responses, containing histamine and serotonin that cause inflammation, heparin that stops blood coagulation, although there is that present in mast cell granules. Mast cells were once thought to be basophils that migrated from the blood into their resident tissues (connective tissue), but they're now known to vary from various cells.
More about basophils are-
- They are the least common of the granulocytes, varying from 0.5 to 1 percent of WBCs.
-They comprise huge cytoplasmic granules, which plays an important function in mounting a non-specific immune response to pathogens, allergic reactions by releasing histamine and dilates the blood vessels.
- These white blood cells have the capability to be stained when revealed to basic dyes, therefore referred to as basophil.
-These cells are best known for their role in asthma and their result in the inflammation and bronchoconstriction in the airways.
- They secrete serotonin, histamine, and heparin.

So, the correct answer is ‘Basophils’.

Note: Basophils were discovered in 1879 by German physician Paul Ehrlich. The name comes from the very fact that these leukocytes are basophilic, i.e., they're vulnerable to staining by basic dyes. Basophils arise and mature in the bone marrow. Basopenia (a reduced basophil count) is hard to confirm because the normal basophil total is so low; it's been reported in class with autoimmune urticaria (a chronic itching condition).