What is Basophil?
{{Infobox cell | Name = Basophil | Latin = | Image = Blausen 0077 Basophil (crop).png | Caption = 3D rendering of a basophil | Image2 = Basophile-9.JPG | Caption2 = Basophil among red blood cells | Precursor = | System = [[Immune system]] | Pronunciation = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|eɪ|s|ə|f|ɪ|l|,_|-|z|-|,_|-|oʊ|-}}{{refn|{{MerriamWebsterDictionary|accessdate=2016-01-21|basophil}}}}{{refn|{{OxfordDictionaries.com|accessdate=2016-01-21|basophil}}}} }} [[File:Blausen 0077 Basophil.png|thumb|Drawing of a basophil granulocyte. See animation at [http://blausen.com/?Topic=8905]]] '''Basophils''', or '''basophil granulocytes''', are rare [[granulocyte]]s.<ref>Hoffbrand A.V. Pettit J.E. and Moss P.A.H. 2005. ''Essential haematology''. 4th ed, Blackwell, Oxford. {{ISBN|0-632-05153-1}}</ref> If you had 10,000 white blood cells, only 1–30 of them would be basophils. Basophils contain large [[cytoplasm]]ic granules. When stained, the granules hide the [[cell nucleus]] from [[sight]]. However, when unstained, the nucleus is visible and it usually has two [[wiktionary:Lobe|lobe]]s. The [[mast cell]], another granulocyte, is similar in appearance and function. Both cell types store [[histamine]], a chemical that is secreted by the cells when stimulated. However, they come from different cell lines. Mast cells usually do not circulate in the blood stream, but instead stay in [[connective tissue]]. Like all circulating granulocytes, basophils go from the [[blood]] into a tissue when needed. The name comes from the fact that these leukocytes are basophilic, i.e., they are [[staining|stained]] by [[base (chemistry)|basic]] [[dye]]s, as shown in the illustrations. How they work is not well understood. Basophils have [[protein]] receptors on their [[cell membrane]] which binds IgE, an [[immunoglobulin]] involved in macro[[parasite]] defence and [[allergy]]. They are found in unusually high numbers at sites of [[ectoparasite]] infection, for example, by [[ticks]]. == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Blood cel