Studies on the reactivity of human basophilic leukocytes Part 1. Correlation between morphological changes of human basophilic leukocytes and histamine release after stimulation with antigen or anti-IgE

Morphological changes in human basophils from atopic asthmatics were observed in whole blood smears with respect to histamine release after stimulation with antigen or anti-IgE. Histamine was rapidly released and was accompanied by morphological changes in basophils upon stimulation with antigen and anti-IgE. A decreased number of basophils and morphological changes including increased cell diameters, increased ratios of the short to long axis diameters, and decreased intracellular granule counts were observed upon the release of histamine after antigen and anti-IgE stimulation. Antigen stimulus induced both more rapid histamine release and morphological changes than anti-IgE stimulation.