A basophil is known for what color stain?
neutral
rose
white
dark purple
The correct answer and explanation is:
A basophil is known for a dark purple stain.
Basophils are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system, particularly in allergic reactions and inflammation. These cells contain large amounts of histamine and heparin, which are important in the body’s response to infection or injury. When basophils are stained with Wright’s stain or a similar dye in a laboratory setting, they appear dark purple or blue under a microscope.
The reason for this distinctive staining is due to the presence of large granules in the cytoplasm of basophils. These granules contain heparin, a blood-thinning agent, and histamine, which is involved in inflammation. Both of these substances are rich in acidic molecules, which readily bind to the basic dyes used in staining procedures, resulting in the dark purple color. The granules are typically large and can obscure the nucleus, which is usually bi-lobed or irregularly shaped, adding to the complexity of their identification.
Basophils are often difficult to differentiate from other granulocytes like eosinophils and neutrophils, but the large, dark-staining granules of basophils make them easily recognizable under the microscope. These cells make up a very small percentage of the total white blood cell population, usually less than 1%, but their role in mediating allergic responses and inflammatory reactions is significant.
Their dark purple coloration in response to specific staining techniques is a direct reflection of the biochemical content in their granules and their functional role in the immune system.