The Basophilic Granulocyte
By ROBERT E. FREDRICKS AND WILLIAM C. MOLONEY
T HE BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTE was first described by Paul Ehrlichin 1891.1 At that time he noted the morphologic similarities of the baso-
phil and the tissue mast cell, both of which contain water-soluble, metachroma-
tically staining granules. Ehrlich also recognized the difference in the genesis
of these cells and postulated that the hemic basophil was derived from the
marrow and was morphogenetically analogous to the neutrophilic and eosino-
philic granulocytes. His theory was challenged repeatedly during the next
forty years2’3 but now seems to be established incontrovertibly.2’4’5
During the succeeding years there have been a few observations relating
changes in basophil counts to various clinical states, but the most signfficant
additions to our knowledge of basophils have been concerned with their bio-
chemical characteristics. In 1952, Graham, et al.6’ � demonstrated that baso-
phils contain a high concentration of histamine and most of the total blood
histamine; this has been confirmed by others.81#{176} In 1952, Behrens and Tau-
bert,� and in 1953, Martin and Roka12 produced evidence suggesting that
the basophils were rich in heparin-like material.
Morphology and staining characteristics-The basophil is the smallest of
the granulocytes, normally having a diameter of about 10 to 14 micra.’3 As
Ehrlich pointed out, the cytoplasmic granules are soluble in water and gly-
cerin and stain metachromatically with certain basic dyes ( thionine, toluidine
blue, methylene blue, methylene violet, brilliant cresyl blue, amethyst, akro-
din red, neutral red, pyronin, safranine and azure), giving a somewhat red-
dish tint with the blue dyes and a yellowish hue with the red dyes.2 The
granules are round,2’4 although some may be irregularly shaped in fixed
preparations.13’” They vary considerably in size and are usually smaller than
the eosinophilic granules but larger than the neutrophilic granules4; they have
diameters of 0.3 to 0.8 micron.’3 The basophils contain fewer granules than
the eosinophils.
As seen in a Wright’s stained smear, the mature cells have a marrow band
of light pinkish to lavender cytoplasm surrounding a slightly reddish purple,
polymorphous nucleus having two to four segments, which are usually folded
on themselves and are often indistinct. The filaments joining the segments
are usually short and broad, and the nuclear chromatin appears more homo-
geneous and tends to stain less intensely than that of the eosinophils and neu-
trophils. The characteristic granules are round, dark purple, and distributed
irregularly through the cell, often times overlying and obscuring the nucleus.
From the Hematology Laboratory, I & III Medical Services (Tufts), Boston City Hos-
pital, Boston, Mass.This work was supported in part by Grant No. AT (30-1) 1871, from the Atomic
Energy Commission.
Submitted June 9, 1958; accepted for publication Nov. 1, 1958.
571
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
572 FREDRICKS AND MOLONEY
TABLE 1.-Normal Values for Blood Basophils
Basophila cu.mm. Per cent
Avg. Range Basophil. Subject Author and Yea?
0.3-0.6 Normal Children Weidenreich 1908’
0.35 avg. Arneth 1920�
35 0.45 avg. Normal Adults #{176}Alder 1923”
0.4-0.6 Normal Adults Bunting 193214
46.7 11-107 Normal Adult tJames et al. 1953”
Men40.6 8-88 Normal Adult jJames et al. 1953”
Women
21 Normal Infants tJames et a!. 1955”
43 27-69 Ne-whom Negroes fJames et al. 1955”
28.1 5-67 Normal Japanese fMoloney & 1954”
Adults Lange
42.8 9-113 Normnal Adult fAngeli et al. 1954”
Men39.1 15-82 Normal Adult fAngeli et al. 1954”
Women
25 15-50 0.0-0.75 Wintrobe 1956”
#{176}Indirectmethod with 1000 cell differential.
tDirect method or indirect method with 4000 cell differential.
In cases where the basophils are increasing in number or in which there is
a basophilocytosis, the mature basophuls may be sparsely granulated with
small granules,15’16 and younger forms, especially bands, may appear.
Histochemical studies of the basophuls are complicated by the fact that
many of the procedures require the use of liquid media in which the baso-
philic granules are soluble. Consequently, identification of the basophils in
the processed smears is ordinarily very difficult. However, unlike the other
granulocytes, the basophils are peroxidase-negative,2’3 and their cytoplasm
is apparently devoid of alkaline phosphatase activity when the Gomori meth-
ods are used.171#{176}
Counting technics and normal t)alues.-The usual 100 to 500 white blood
cell differential counts are ordinarily inadequate for the evaluation of the
numbers of basophils in the peripheral blood. To be significant the indirect
basophil count should be based on at least a 1000 cell differential count of
leukocytes. Moore and James have developed a relatively simple method for
the direct, �vet, counting of basophils, which, they have shown, has excellent
statistical correlation with indirect basophil counts done by 4,000 cell differ-
ential counts.2#{176}
The basophil counts on cases reported in this paper were done by the
direct method of Moore and James or by the indirect method based on 4,000
cell differential counts. Normal values for the absolute and relative numbers
of basophils in the peripheral blood are shown in table 1.
BASOPHILS IN PAThOLOGIC CONDITIONS
Chronic myelogenous leukeniia.-Ehrlich first noted basophilocytosis in
chronic myelogenous leukemia. Many others have confirmed his observation,
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
THE BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTE 573
T�trn� 2.-Basophils in Untreated Cases of Chronic Myelogneous Leukemia
Patient WBC’s/cu.mm. % Baso’s Baso’s/cu.mm.
V.A. 22,800 3.60 821
E.B. 176,000 8.90 15,664M.B. 183,000 3.50 6,422A.C. 230,000 2.95 6,785
L.C. 217,000 0.87 1,887
G.C. 213,500 1.65 3,523
IC. 29,550 3.70 1,093
A.D. 124,000 2.25 2,790
V.F. 310,000 3.00 9,300
K.H. 65,000 3.80 2,470J.Mc. 118,400 0.88 1,036R.M. 501,000 0.60 3,006
R.N. 287,500 1.00 2,875
M.O. 120,000 2.30 2,760
AR. 118,000 7.00 8,260
C.T. 172,000 4.58 7,855P.T. 82,000 4.85 4,977F.T. 570,000 3.70 21,090G.W. 278,000 3.75 10,425
and it is generally accepted that the greatest elevations of basophils occur
in this disease.2”4”6’21’22’2528 In one variety of myelogenous leukemia, so-called
“basophilic leukemia,” basophilocytosis as high as 83.2 per cent has been
recorded.29
The highest levels of blood histamine have also been found in patients
with chronic myelogenous leukemia6’9’10’3040; indeed, it was this feature which
led to the discovery that the basophils contain most of the blood histamine.7’8’10
All the data now available show that the absolute numbers of basophils are
almost always increased in chronic myelogenous leukemia, including the leu-
kopenic type.25 It is of considerable clinical importance that basophilocytosis
is oftentimes one of the earliest manifestations of chronic myelogenous leu-
kemia.22
In our current studies 19 untreated cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia
were investigated, and in these patients basophils ranged from 0.60 per cent
to 8.90 per cent and from 821 to 21,090 per cubic millimeter of blood. (See
table 2.)
Myeloproliferative disorders.-In 1923, Alder reported that basophils were
always markedly increased in polycythemia25; however, it is now well es-
tablished that the basophils are usually moderately increased in polycythemia
vera with associated myeloproliferative features.2’”’22’26 The degree of this
increase is reflected in elevated blood histamine levels in these cases,9”#{176}’32’35’
36,38,39 and is ordinarily less marked than in chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Included in our series were 18 patients with untreated myeloproliferative
disorders (eight cases of polycythemia vera and 10 cases of agnogenic mycloid
metaplasia). Basophils ranged from 0.20 per cent to 6.30 per cent and from
51 to 2,632 per cubic millimeter of blood in 17 of the 18 cases. One patient,
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
574 FREDRICKS AND MOLONEY
TABLE 3.-Basophils in Untreated Cases of Mycloid Metaplasia
WBC’s/ Per cent BasophilsPatient Diagnosis cu.mm. Basophils cu.mm.
J.E. Polycythemia Vera 71.500 1.40 994
F.G. Polycythemia Vera 21,500 0.60 129
P.M. Polyeythemia Vera 107,500 1.12 1,204
N.Mc. Polycythemia Vera 25,300 0.20 51
A.M. Polycythemia Vera 17,350 0.78 136
M.M. Polycythemia Vera 12,700 0.45 57
JR. Polycythemia Vera 12,000 2.38 286
R.W. Polycythemia Vera 17,800 1.74 310
BA. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 83,000 0.38 315
E.A. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 46,800 1.48 693
T.B. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 96,000 1.30 1,248
E.D. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 25,450 1.62 412
G.D. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 41,500 6.30 2,632
H.G. Agnogenic Niyeloid Metaplasia 60,000 1.20 720
J.H. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 52,000 3.05 1,586
S.H. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 150,000 0.0 0
with acute bronchopneumonia
& pyelonephritis
D.P. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 88,000 0.20 176
M.P. Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia 44,500 2.33 1,057
S.H., who had myeloid metaplasia complicated by bronchopneumonia and
pyelonephritis, was found to have no basophils in a 4,000 cell differential
count. ( See table 3.)
Cirrhosis.-Several textbooks of hematology list cirrhosis as a condition in
which basophilocytosis may occur. In our experience no patient with cirrhosis
has shown increased basophils. Moreover, there is only one report in the
medical literature describing an increase of basophils in cirrhosis, and in
that series of eighteen cirrhotics, studied with 500 cell differential counts,
only occasional elevations of the relative number of basophils were de-
scribed.4’ Blood histamine studies of patients with liver disease have not
provided sufficient information to resolve this question.36’38 Since the avail-
able evidence has been meager, it was impossible to draw a definite con-
clusion; however, it seems unlikely that basophilocytosis accompanies liver
disease.
Anemias.-Prior to the modern era of medical therapy, when most anemias
persisted without effective treatment, it was noted that chronic hemolytic,
iron deficiency and “toxic” anemias were associated with moderate increases
of basophils, in contrast to pernicious anemia, in which basophil counts were
stated to be normal.25’30’34’35 Alder recorded an average of 1.09 per cent
basophils in “constitutional hemolytic icterus,” 1.9 per cent in chronic iron
deficiency anemias and 1.38 per cent in prolonged anemias secondary to blood
loss, neoplasia and infections; and he observed that the basophilocytosis sub-
sided when these anemias responded to treatment.25
Only one example of basophilocytosis associated with anemia has come
to our attention; in this case, the patient had acquired hemolytic hypoplastic
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
Patient
SB.
WBC’s/ Per cent Basophilscu.mm. Basophils cu.mrn.
34,100 0.01 3.13
Diagnoeis
Portal Cirrhosis with Hepatic
Necrosis
B.B. Pneumonia and Thrombophiebitis 20,500 0 0GB. Lymphoblastic Lymphoma 27,475 0.01 1.67C.C. Pneumonia 18,900 0.05 9
J.C. Pulmonary Tuberculosis 53,500 0.00 0CD. Pneumonia and Pyelonephritis 34,200 0.00 0
H.D. Portal Cirrhosis, decompensated 20,800 0.22 46
S.F. Pyelonephritis with Bacteremia 42,000 0.00 0
L.H. Necrotizing Renal Papillitis,
Bacterial Endocarditis andCirrhosis
19,350 0.00 0
R.K. Hodgkin’s Granuloma 25,900 0 0
E.L Carcinoma of Renal Pelvis
and Ureter, Pyelonephritis,
and Post-op. Retroperitoneal
Hematonla
170,000 0.00 0
L.M. Bronchiogenic Carcinoma and
Pneumonia
26,300 0.00 0
G.M. Carcinoma of Stomach with
Hepatic Metastases
88,000 0 0
F.N. Bronchiogenic Carcinoma 21,750 0.09 18.7
M.O. Carcinomatosis; questionable
primary site
21,350 0 0
C.S. Portal Cirrhosis with Acute
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
44,600 0.022 0.10
M.T. Pneumonia 53,050 0.00 0
THE BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTE 575
TABLE 4.-Basophils in Cases with Neutrophilic Lenkocytosis or Leukernoid Reaction
anemia of unknown etiology. She was observed to have increased basophils
about four months after the onset of her symptoms of anemia, and since then
the basophils have varied, without apparent relationship to transfusions or
other therapy, ranging up to 3.5 per cent and 150 per cubic millimeter of
blood. In this and similar cases in which the etiology remains obscure, final
judgment about the relationship of the anemia and basophilocytosis should
be reserved.
Neutrophilic leukocytosis and leukemoid reactions.-Our series of 17 cases
of neutrophilic leukocytosis or leukemoid reactions due to infection, neo-
plasia, tissue necrosis or acute anemia was characterized by abnormally low
absolute and relative basophil counts. Indeed, the basophils almost always
disappeared completely from the peripheral blood in these cases.2’5’10’34’3638
( See table 4 and figure 1.)
Miscellaneous conditions.-In the acute leukemias, monocytic leukemias and
chronic lymphatic leukemias, basophil counts are usually relatively low, and
are never elevated.2’21’25’304#{176}
Basophilocytosis has been said to occur in Hodgkin’s disease, small pox,
chicken pox, and following injections of foreign proteins.2’14’27 In general,
these conclusions seem to be based on an occasional slight elevation of the
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
576 FREDRICKS AND MOLOMEY
CHRONICUVELOGENOUS
LEUKEMIA20,00010,000 #{149}..
.#{149}
5000 #{149} MYELOID
#{149} METAPLASIAS
:!a
1000 #{149}#{149}
-#{149}-- #{149}#{149}
500
#{149}:#{149}
#{149} LEUKOCYTOSESI &
100 ‘- LEUKEMOID
#{149} REACTIONS50-
Normol Ronge
10- �j,5-
#{149}
#{149}
0
Fic. 1.-Chart showing range of absolmmte basophil counts in normal persons and in
patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, myeloid metaplasia, and neutrophilic leu-
kocytosis or leukemoid reaction.
relative number of basophils determined from a 200 to 300 white cell differ-
ential count.42’43 Several investigators have failed to confirm the reports of
basophilocytosis in response to the injection of foreign proteins in humans.2’25
The reported normal blood histamine levels in patients with Hodgkin’s dis-
ease imply that the basophil counts were normal in these cases.32’34’35
Medical texts refer to an association of basophilocytosis with “allergic”
eosinophilia. The one reported instance of this association concerned a case
of hookworm disease, for which details about the clinical findings and the
counting technic employed were not given.3
it is of interest that basophilopenia has been observed in normal persons44’45
and in several patients with thrombocytopenic purpura following steroid ad-
ministration. The data concerning this phenomenon are very limited both
quantitatively and qualitatively; further studies will be needed to establish
the relationship of steroids to basophilopenia.
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
A: Before �
B After ,‘�
j
wed
I00�W. P.
THE BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTE 577
#{176}Myleran is the trade name for 1:4 dimethanesulphonyl-oxybutane.
570,000
� 100,000
� 50,000
� IO,OOO�
I000�
500�
Patient: F.T.
FIG. 2.-Decrease in total leukocytes and basophils following treatment with P” in two
cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia.
THE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT ON BASOPHILS IN PATIENTS WITH CmloNIc
MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA AND PATIENTS WITH MYELOID METAPLASIA
Observations on 12 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and two
with myeloid metaplasia during a total of 27 courses of Myleran#{176} treatment
revealed no special resistance of basophils to this alkylating agent. Figures 2
and 3 illustrate the effects of p32 and x-ray treatments on the total leukocyte
and basophil counts in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and mye-
bid metaplasia. In each instance there was a decrease in the absolute baso-
phil counts which roughly paralleled the decline in total leukocytes in re-
sponse to the therapy. This observation was confirmed by basophil counts
and other information noted as incidental data in similar cases reported in
the medical literature (table 5) 27,30,3336,46
Apparently radiation and Myleran act on the myeloblast in order to pro-
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
A Before TreatmentB #{149}After Treatment100,000
50,000
10,000
5000
1000
500100
�J 50
10
51st Course 2nd Course 3rd Course
Patient ML
1st Course 2nd Course
Patient E.D. -‘
578 FREDRICKS AND MOLONEY
Fic. 3.-Concomitant fall in total leukocytes and basophils following x-ray therapy to
the spleen in two cases of myeloid metaplasia.
duce an essentially uniform depression of all granubocytes. Other studies,
such as leukophoresis in dogs,47’48 support this concept, which is in direct
opposition to the frequently repeated idea that basophils are radioresistant.2’16’27,29,49-51
The theory of basophil radioresistance was promulgated in 1906, when
Joachim reported a terminal case of “basophilic leukemia,” in which an in-
creasing relative basophibocytosis was noted following x-ray therapy.2#{176} Similar
cases of “basophilic leukemia” associated with increasing basophibocytosis
following x-ray treatments have also been described.2’16’27’28’49-53 One of our
patients, who had chronic myebogenous leukemia of two years’ duration, de-
veloped a spinal cord chloroma late in the course of her disease; she received
1900 r x-ray to the lumbar area then gradually developed leukopenia (2,000
to 1,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter) and marked basophilocytosis
(38 per cent to 40 per cent) just prior to death. This case and those of “baso-
philic leukemia” which have been reported probably represent a distinct type
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
THE BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTE 579
TABLE 5.-Effect on Basophils of Myleran Treatment of Chronic Myelogenous
Leukemia and Myeloid Metaplasia
Pretreatment Post-TreatmentWBC’s/ % Bas&s/ Myleran WBC’s/ % Baso’s/
Patient Course cu.mm. Baso’s cu.mm. mg. cu.mm. Baso’s cu.mm.
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
V.A. 1st. 107,500 6.75 7,256 176 � 6,550 5.38 352
2nd. 44,400 3.05 1,354 1 12 5,000 3.03 152
E.B. 1st. 176,000 8.90 15,660 192 9,500 2.75 261
2nd. 23,600 2.85 673 156 5,200 3.60 187
MB. 1st. 183,500 3.50 6,422 196 28,000 3.75 1.050
2nd. 89,000 1.45 1,291 308 10.550 6.10 644
3rd. 65,000 1.50 975 148 14,480 2.38 345
4th. 92,500 0.70 648 222 5,050 1.80 91
5th. 20,600 1.2 247 126 4,000 1.28 51
G.C. 1st. 213,500 1.65 3,523 196 11,300 2.50 283
I.C. 1st. 29,550 3.67 1,084 142 11,400 6.03 684
2nd. 88,500 4.60 4,071 166 14,200 5.10 724
3rd. 64,000 4.70 3,008 224 11,000 3.16#{176} 348
4th. 38,700 3.65 1,412 182 5,500 5.53 304
\‘.F. 1st. 310,000 3.00 9,300 720 4,050 1.75 71
MO. 1st. 177,000 6.03 10,670 308 11,200 4.00� 448
\V.P. 1st. 146,000 2.25 3,285 188 25,500 1.02 260A.R. 1st. 118,000 7.00 8,260 444 8,050 6.45 519
CT. 1st. 172,000 4.58 7,855 546 20,400 4.63 945
F.T. 1st. 70,000 1.67 2,112 108 13,900 4.15 577
2nd. 58,000 1.75 1,015 144 11,400 0.64#{176} 73
3rd. 41,500 2.00 830 352 4,500 0.27#{176} 12
4th. 88,000 2.75 2,420 430 5,200 0.75#{176} 39
G.W. 1st. 278,000 3.75 10,425 354 6,850 2.28 156
2nd. 76,500 1.10 342 246 22,40t) 1.70 381
Myeloid Metaplasia
E.D. 1st. 43,000 1.48 636 106 20,600 1.00 206
D.P. 1st. 88,000 0.20 176 84 38,500 0.15 58#{176}Based on 2000 cell differential.
of terminal chronic myebogenous leukemia, as Doan and Reinhardt28 and
others16’53 have suggested, and an etiobogic relationship to radiation therapy
seems unlikely.
DISCUSSION
The functions of the basophil remain unknown. Basophibocytosis in bin-
mans following injection of heparin54 and biochemical characteristics of baso-
phils11’12 suggest that these cells might be heparin carriers. On this basis it
has been postulated that the basophib, like the mast cell, is a “heparinocyte”
which releases its anticoagulant material in areas of inflammation in order to
prevent clotting and stasis of blood and lymph.1 1,55-57 However, further ex-
perimental and biochemical proof is necessary before this thesis can be
firmly established. No functional significance has become associated with
the high concentration of histamine in the basophils.
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
580 FREDRICKS AND MOLONEY
Basophilopenia is commonly found with steroid treatment of nonleukemic
patients and in conditions such as infection, neoplasia, tissue necrosis and
acute anemia. This relationship to “stressful” conditions suggests that the fall
of the basophils, like that of the eosinophils, might be mediated via the
pituitary-adrenocortical axis.
SUMMARY
1. The history, morphology and technics of counting of basophils have been
briefly reviewed.
2. A marked relative and absolute increase of basophils was always found
in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Moderate relative and absolute increases of
basophils usually occurred in myeloid metaplasias ( including polycythemia
vera with leukocytosis ) . In some cases of iron-deficiency, hemobytic and toxic
anemias of long standing there may be moderate increases of blood basophils.
3. Marked relative and absolute decreases of basophils occurred in almost
all cases of neutrophilic leukocytosis or leukemoid reaction, associated with
infection, neopbasia, tissue necrosis or acute anemia. Patients with chronic
lymphatic leukemia, monocytic leukemia or acute leukemia almost always
have relative and absolute decreases of circulating basophils.
4. In our experience there is no evidence that basophils possess any pe-
culiar radioresistant qualities. In general, the basophils fall proportionately
with the decline of beukocyte counts during Myleran, P32 and x-ray therapy
of chronic myelogenous leukemia and myeboid metaplasia. The suppressing
action of these therapeutic agents seems to be on the proliferating blast cell.
5. The function of the basophils is not known, but it has been postulated
that they might act as “heparinocytes,” inhibiting clotting and stasis of blood
and lymph in areas of inflammation.
6. There is suggestive evidence that the basophilopenia in cases of infec-
tion, neoplasia, tissue necrosis and acute anemia is analogous to the eosino-
philopenia of the “stress reaction” mediated via the adrenal glands; however,
it must be admitted that this has not been unequivocally established, and
other mechanisms may play a role in controlling the levels of circulating baso-
phils.
SUMMARIO IN INTERLINGUA
1. Es presentate un breve revista del historia, morphologia, e technica del
numeration de basophilos.
2. Un marcate augmento relative e absolute del basophilos esseva semper
trovate in chronic leucemia myelogene. Moderate augmentos relative e ab-
solute del basophibos occurreva usualmente in metaplasias myeboide, incluse
polycythemia ver con leucocytosis. In certe casos de carentia de ferro e de
hemolytic e toxic anemias de bonge duration, il pote exister moderate grados
de augmento del basophibos del sanguine.
3. Marcate reductiones relative e absolute del basophibos occurreva in
quasi omne casos de leucocytosis neutrophilic o de reaction leucemoide as-
sociate con infection, neoplasia, histonecrosis, o anemia acute. Patientes con
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
THE BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTE 581
chronic leucemia lymphatic, leucemia monocytic, o leucemia acute manifesta
reductiones relative e absolute del basophilos circulante in quasi omne casos.
4. In nostre experientia, nihil prova que basophilos possede special quali-
tates radio-resistente. In general, le basophilos se reduce proportionalmente
con le reduction del numeration leucocytic in le curso del uso de Myleran,
�32 e radios X in le tractamento de chronic leucemia myelogene e de meta-
plasia myeloide. Le action depressori exercite per le mentionate agentes thera-
peutic pare afficer le proliferante blastocytos.
5. Le function del basophilo non es cognoscite, sed on ha postulate que
illos es possibilemente “heparinocytos” que inhibi le coagulation e le stase
de sanguine de de lympha in areas de inflammation.
6. Il existe indicios que pare indicar que le basophilopenia in casos de in-
fection, neoplasia, histonecrosis, e anemia acute es analoge al eosinophilia
del “reaction de stress” que es mediate via le corpores suprarenal. Tamen, il
debe esser admittite que isto ha non ancora essite establite de maniera in-
equivoc, e il es ben possibile que altere mechanismos participa in le regula-
tion nivellos de basophilos circulante.
REFERENCES
1. Riley, J. F.: The riddle of the mastcells, a tribute to Paul Erlich. Lan-cet 1:841, 1954.
2. Michels, N. A.: The mast cells. In
Downey, H., Ed.: Handbook ofHematology vol. I. New York, Hoeb-
er, Inc., 1938, p. 326-350.3. Graham, G. S.: The hemic hasophil.
J.Exper.Med. 31:209, 1920.4. Sabin, F. R.: Studies of living human
blood cells. Bull. Johns Hopkins
Hosp. 34:277, 1923.5. Ameth, F.: Uber das Mastzellenblut-
bild. Berlin Klin.Wchnschr. 57:109,
1920.
6. Graham, H. T., Wheelwright, F., Par-ish, H. H., Jr., Marks, A. R. andLowry, 0. H.: Distribution of his-
tamine among blood elements. Fed.
Proc. 11:350, 1952.
7. -, Lowry, 0. H., Wheelwright, F.,Lenz, M. A. and Parish, H. H., Jr.:
Distribution of histamine among leu-
kocytes and platelets. Blood 10:487,
1955.
8. Ehrich, W. E.: Comments and com-
munications: Histamine in mast cells.
Science 118:603, 1953.
9. Valentine, W. N., Lawrence, J. S.,Pearch, M. L. and Beck, W. S.: Therelationship of the basophil to bloodhistamine in man. Blood 10: 154,
1955.10. -: The biochemistry and enzymatic
activities of leukocytes in health anddisease. In Tocantins, T. M., Ed.:Progress in Hematology voi. I. New
York, Grune & Stratton, 1956, p.
302.
11. Berhrens, M. and Taubert, M.: Der
Nachweis von Heparin in der baso-philen Leukocyten. Klin.Wchnschr.
30:76, 1953.
12. Martin, H. and Roka, L.: Zur Frage
des Heparin-Gerhaltes der Blutmast-
zellen des Menschin. Acta.haematol.
10:26, 1953.
13. Ackerman, G. A. and Bellios, N. C.:
A study of the morphology of the
living cells of blood and bone mar-
row in vital films with the phase
contrast microscopy. Blood 10:3,1955.
14. Bunting, C. H.: In Cowdry, E. V., Ed.:
Special Cytology, vol. II. New York,
Hoeber, 1932, p. 697-699.
15. Sandoz Atlas of Hematology. Basle,Switzerland, Sandoz Ltd., 1952, p.
49.16. Forkner, C. E.: Basophils and baso-
philie leukemia. In Forkner, Ed.:Leukemia and Allied Disorders. New
York, Macmillan, 1938, p. 68 andp. 181.
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
582 FREDRICKS AND MOLONEY
17. Gomori, C.: Microscopic Histochemis-
try, Principles and Practice. Chica-
go, University of Chicago Press,
1952, p. 180.
18. \Vachstein, NI.: Alkaline phosphatase ac-
tivity in normal and abnormal blood
and bone marrow cells. J.Lab.&
Clin.Med. 31:1, 1946.19. \Viltshaw, E. and Moloney, W. C.:
Histochemical and biochemical stud-
ies on leukocyte alkaline phospha-
tase activity. Blood 10:1120, 1955.
20. Moore, J. E., III, and James, C. W.,
III: A simple, direct method for ab-
solute basophil leukocyte count.
Proc.Soc.Exper. Biol.& Med. 82:601,
1953.
21. James, C. W., III, Wright, D. U.,
Wilkerson, V. and Shellenberg, R.:
Observations on the absolute baso-
phil count in health and disease.
Clinical Research Proceedings 3:31,
1955.
22. Moloney, \V. C. and Lange, R. D.:
Cytologic and biochemical studies on
the granulocytes in early leukemia
among atom bomb survivors. Texas
Reports Biol.& Med. 12:887, 1954.
23. Angeli, C., Tedesehi, G. and Cava-
zutti, F.: II tasso dei basofili del
sangue periferico nel soggeto nor-
male, valutato con tin nuovo metado
di conta diretta. Prog.med.Nap. 10:
742, 1954.
24. \Vintrobe, M. NI.: Clinical Hematology,
ed. 4. Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger.
1956, p. 232.
25. Alder, A.: Ober klinisches Verhalten
and diagnostische Bedeutung der
basophilen Leukocyten (Mastzellen).
Folia haematol. 28:249, 1923.
26. Bunting, C. H.: The leukocytes. Phys-
iol.Rev. 2:505, 1922.
27. Elliot, A. R. and Young, R. H.: Mye-
logenous leukemia. Med.Clin. North
America 15:569, 1931.
28. Doan, C. A. and Reinhart, H. L.: The
basophil granulocyte, basophilcytosis
and myeloid leukemia, basophil and
“mixed granule” types; an experi-
mental, clinical and pathological
study, with the report of a new syn-
drome. Am.J.Clin.Path. 11:1, 1941.
29. Joachim, C.: Uber Mastzellen-leuka-
mien. Deiitsch.Arch.f.klin.Med. 87:
437, 1906.
30. Code, C. F. and McDonald, A. D.:
The histamine-like activity of blood.
Lancet 2:730, 1937.
31. - and Ing., H. R.: Histamine-like ac-
tivity of white blood cells. J.Physiol.
90:485, 1937.
32. Shimkin, NI. B., Zon, L. and Crigler,
C. W.: Blood histamine in gastric
cancer and peptic ulcer. Proc.Soc.
Exper.Biol.& Nied. 52:335, 1943.
33. Thiersch, J. B.: Histamine and hista-
minase in chronic myeloid leukaemia
of man. I. Histaminase in the blood of
chronic myeloid leukemia. Australian
J.Exper.Biol.& M.Sc. 25:73, 1947.
34. Valentine, W. N. and Lawrence, J. S.:Studies on blood histamine: Partition
of blood histamine before and after
clotting in health and disease states.
Am.J.Med.Sc. 216:619, 1948.35. Shimkin, NI. B., Sapirstein, L., Coetzl,
F. R., Wheeler, P. M. and Berlin,N. I.: Blood histamine in leukemia
and erythremia. J.Nat. Cancer Inst.
9:379, 1949.
36. Valentine, W. M., Pearce, NI. L. and
Lawrence, J. S.: Studies on the his-
tamine content of blood with spe-
cial reference to leukemia, leukemoid
reactions, and leukocytosis. Blood 5:623, 1950.
37. Shimkin, M. B. and Bierman, H. R.:
Blood histamine in leukemia. Am.J.
Med. 8:542, 1950.
38. Valentine, W. M.: Quantitative bio-
chemical studies on leukocytes in
man; a review. Blood 6:845, 1951.
39. Code, C. F.: Histamine in blood. Phys-
iol.Rev. 32:47, 1952.40. -: The histamine content of white
blood cells. In J. L. Tullis, Ed.: Blood
Cells and Plasma Proteins-TheirState in Nature. New York, Academic
Press, 1953, p. 292.
41. Rubinato, J.: Sur Ia valeur des r#{233}ch-
erches h#{233}matologiques dans le diag-
nostic des cirrhoses h#{233}patique et sur
l’importance de l’augmentation des
Mastzellen. Folia haematol. 4 (supl.):
198, 1907.42. Bunting, C. H.: The leukocytic pic-
ture in influenza. Am.J.Med.Sc. 162:1, 1921.
43. -‘ --, and Thewls, E.: Leukocyte re-actions in small pox, chickenpox,
scarlet fever, measles and mumps.
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
THE BASOPHILIC GRANULOCYTE 583
Arch.Path.& Lab.Med. 1:189, 1926.
44. Code, C. F., Mitchell, R. C. and Ken-
nedy, J. C.: The effect of cortisone
on the number of circulating baso-
phils and eosinophils: Is there a re-
lationship between these cells? Proc.
Staff Meetings Mayo Clin. 29:200,
1954.
45. Kelemen, E. and Bikich, C.: Insuffi-ciency of acute response of basophil
and eosinophil leukocytes and of
blood histamine after the administra-
tion of ACTH and cortisone in un-
treated leukaemia. Acta haemat. 15:202, 1956.
46. Turchini, J. and Kien, L. K. van: etude
des basophiles due sang dans quel-
ques conditions ou leur nombre se
trouve augment#{233}. Revue Belge de
Path. et de Med. Exp. (Bruxelles)
24:520, 1955.
47. Lawrence, J. S.: Physiology and func-
tions of the white blood cells.J.A.M.A. 157:1212, 1955.
48. Craddock, C. G., Adams, W. S., Perry,
S., Skoog, W. and Lawrence, J. S.:
Studies of leukopoiesis; the technique
of leukophoresis and the response ofmyeloid tissue in normal and irrad-
iated dogs. J.Lab.& Clin.Med. 45:881,
1955.
49. Tomaszewski, Z.: Uber einen Fall vonMastzellen leukamie. Folia hematol.12:115, 1911.
50. Sabrezes, J.: Presence d’hemohistio-
blastes se differenciant en mastzellen
dans un cas de myeloleucemie chron-
ique (radioresistance des hemohistio-
blastes). Arch. de mal. du couer (Par-
is) 19:38, 1926.
51. -: Leucemie a mastzellen et a cellules
de Ferrata radio-resistantes; pousee
aigue terminal. Arch. de mal. du
couer (Paris) 19:453, 1926.
52. Groat, \V. A., Wyatt, T. C., Zimmer,
S. NI. and Field, R. E.: Acute baso-
philic leukemia. Am.J.Med.Sc. 191:
457, 1936.
53. Casey, A. E., Nettles, T. E. and Hidden,
E. H.: Basophilic leukemia. South.
Med.J. 39:325, 1946.
54. Angeli, C., Tedeschi, G. and Cavazzutti,
F.: Suite variazioni del tasso dei lesi-
cociti basofili del sangue periferico
dopo somministrazione di eparinal.
Minerva Med. 2:752, 1955.
55. Smith, R. 0. and Wood, B. W., Jr.:
Cellular mechanisms of antibacterial
defense in lymph nodes. I. Patho-
genesis of acute bacterial lympha-
denitis. J.Exper.Med. 90:555, 1949.
56. Ehrich, W. E.: The functional signifi-
cance of the various leukocytes in
inflammation. J. Mt. Sinai Hosp. 15:
337, 1949.
57. Riley, F. J.: Heparin, histamine, and
mast cells. Blood 9:1123, 1954.
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom
1959 14: 571-583
ROBERT E. FREDRICKS and WILLIAM C. MOLONEY The Basophilic Granulocyte
http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/14/5/571.full.htmlUpdated information and services can be found at:
Articles on similar topics can be found in the following Blood collections
http://www.bloodjournal.org/site/misc/rights.xhtml#repub_requestsInformation about reproducing this article in parts or in its entirety may be found online at:
http://www.bloodjournal.org/site/misc/rights.xhtml#reprintsInformation about ordering reprints may be found online at:
http://www.bloodjournal.org/site/subscriptions/index.xhtmlInformation about subscriptions and ASH membership may be found online at:
Copyright 2011 by The American Society of Hematology; all rights reserved.Hematology, 2021 L St, NW, Suite 900, Washington DC 20036.Blood (print ISSN 0006-4971, online ISSN 1528-0020), is published weekly by the American Society of
For personal use only.on April 12, 2019. by guest www.bloodjournal.orgFrom