The Basophil granulocyte reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Basophil granulocyte

Basophils are the least common of the granulocytes. They contain large cytoplasmic granules which obscure the nucleus under the microscope. However when the nucleus is visible it is seen to have 2 lobes. When basophils leave the blood they become mast cells. These cells play a major part in the inflammatory process, having a rapid response to specific allergens and releasing heparin, histamine and serotonin.

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