Microscopic observation on morphological changes of basophils induced by cross-linking of IgE receptors

Differences in morphological changes of basophils between antigen and anti-IgE　stimulation were examined in atopic subjects in relation to histamine release.　1. Antigen-　induced release of histamine was remarkably more rapid and larger at any incubation time than the release by anit-IgE, and a significant difference was found at 3 to 9 min. 2. Decrease in number of basophils induced by antigen was significantly higher for 12 to 15 min incubation time than that by anti-IgE. 3. Morphological changes of basophils representing increased motility such as an increased ratio of short to long axis diameter (L/S ratio) and an increased incidence of basophils with localized granules (LG) were more often observed in antigen stimulation compared with anti-IgE, and the L/S ratio of the cells was significantly more increased in antigen stimulation at 6 and 15 min. 4. There was no difference in morphological changes of basophils showimg swollen type (degranulation) such as an increased mean diameter (MD) of the cells between antigen and anti-IgE. These results suggest that antigen activates basophils and induces increased motility more strongly than anti-IgE, but the action on degranulation was not different between the two agents.

抗原および抗IgE刺激時の好塩基球の形態変化の特徴について,ヒスタミン遊離との関連のもとに,顕微鏡下に経時的に観察した｡1.抗原刺激時のヒスタミン遊離は,15分間のincubationのいずれの時期においても,抗IgE刺激に比べ有意に多く,incubation時間3分と9分では両者間に有意の差が見られた｡2.抗原刺激時の好塩基球数の減少も抗IgE刺激に比べより高度であった｡3.運動亢進により洋梨型を示す抗塩基球では,長径/短径比の増大が見られた｡この長径/短径比の増大を示す好塩基球は,抗原刺激時に抗IgE刺激に比べより高頻度に見られ,特にincubation6分と15分では両者間に有意の差が見られた｡4.膨化型を示す好塩基球ではその平均直径の増大が見られるが,この平均直径の増大については,抗原と抗lgE刺激との間に差は見られなかった｡以上の結果より,抗原刺激では,好塩基球のactivate,運動亢進へ の過程が抗IgE刺激時と比べより高度であるが,膨化への過程には両者間に差が見られないことが示唆された｡