Basophils and mast cells are similar but unique secretory cells with a well-documented role in immediate-hypersensitivity reactions. The presence of these cells in various cell mediated hypersensitivity reactions, in tissues of multiple diseases, and as a component of the host reaction to injury and repair in numerous circumstances is well known. Release of stored and newly generated mediators of inflammation from basophils and mast cells contributes to the cascade of pathogenetic events in circumstances under which these release reactions occur. Despite insights acquired through studies of these pathologic events, the role of basophils and mast cells and their secretory products in health is not known. In this book, I review much of the structural information regarding basophils and mast cells of multiple species. Ultrastructural studies of rat mast cells historically precede and quantitatively exceed similar studies of basophils and mast cells of other species. Therefore, I first review these background studies as an entity. Then I discuss the contents of two prominent organelles-granules and lipid bodies-in basophils and mast cells of several species. The ultrastructural morphology of basophils and mast cells in three species is presented in detail to establish appropriate guidelines for their recognition and to provide general rules for analysis which are appropriate for the identification of these cells in other species as well."

This is the first book devoted exclusively to the subject of immunogold-silver staining. This volume is authored by 47 distinguished scientist representing 12 countries. The primary objective of this book is to discuss principles, methods, and applications of IGSS.

Basophils and mast cells are similar but unique secretory cells with a well-documented role in immediate-hypersensitivity reactions. The presence of these cells in various cell mediated hypersensitivity reactions, in tissues of multiple diseases, and as a component of the host reaction to injury and repair in numerous circumstances is well known. Release of stored and newly generated mediators of inflammation from basophils and mast cells contributes to the cascade of pathogenetic events in circumstances under which these release reactions occur. Despite insights acquired through studies of these pathologic events, the role of basophils and mast cells and their secretory products in health is not known. In this book, I review much of the structural information regarding basophils and mast cells of multiple species. Ultrastructural studies of rat mast cells historically precede and quantitatively exceed similar studies of basophils and mast cells of other species. Therefore, I first review these background studies as an entity. Then I discuss the contents of two prominent organelles-granules and lipid bodies-in basophils and mast cells of several species. The ultrastructural morphology of basophils and mast cells in three species is presented in detail to establish appropriate guidelines for their recognition and to provide general rules for analysis which are appropriate for the identification of these cells in other species as well."

8 References . 95 Subject Index 101 VIII 1 Introduction Mast cells and basophils were first described by Ehrlich (1877, 1878, 1879). Although these cells share many functional properties, they can readily be distinguished using morphological criteria (Dvorak 1986a; Dvorak et al. 1983a, 1983c; Galli et al. 1984). The identification of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and high affinity IgE receptors on mast cells and basophils was instrumental to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the role of these cells in immediate hypersensitivity reactions (Ishizaka and Ishizaka 1979; Ishizaka et al. 1966, 1972, 1973; Tomioka and Ishizaka 1971). We now know that these IgE-mediated mechanisms as well as a number of other stimuli can cause the rapid release of many preformed mediators of inflammation from both mast cells and basophils (Galli et al. 1984). The most well-known of these is histamine. Potent mediators that are not preformed are also stimulated and released from these cells. Recently, products of arachidonic acid metabolism, such as the prostaglandins and leukotrienes, have been found to be generated either by the cyclooxygenase pathway or the lipoxy- genase pathway in mast cells and basophils (Lewis and Austen 1981, 1984; Peters et al. 1984, 1987). Detailed studies and reviews of the biochemistry of these mediators and their immunologically mediated reactions have been published (Lewis and Austen 1981, 1984; Lichtenstein et al. 1979; MacGlashan et al. 1982b; Paterson et al. 1976; Peters et al. 1984, 1987). Mast cells and basophils contain other important biochemicals.

Eosinophil Ultrastructure: Atlas of Eosinophil Cell Biology and Pathology entirely focuses on eosinophils and their functional roles in inflammation, host defense, and normal homeostatic activities. The book explores the ultrastructure of human eosinophils, highlighting biological processes observed under normal, experimental, and pathological conditions. Created to fill a void in the eosinophil literature, the book includes an extensive array of electron microscopic images that illustrate the diversity of eosinophil morphology. While the atlas is a learning and teaching tool, it is mainly a helpful resource for researchers to identify distinguishing features and structural changes that arise during studies of human eosinophils. The book also covers the ultrastructure of mouse eosinophils under normal and activation conditions and in the context of representative diseases.

This problem-based guide illustrates key reasoning processes that physicians use to resolve individual clinical problems through the use of electron microscopy. Its format will facilitate learning the case approach for diagnostic ultrastructural pathology using clinical-ultrastructural-pathogenic correlation. A total of 51 cases and a procedural guide for the ultrastructural pathology laboratory are included. The cases were selected according to one of the following four principles: 1) classic cases that were diagnosed readily by light microscopy to facilitate the electron microscopic diagnosis of less classic cases; 2) diagnostic cases, those cases for which ultrastructural analysis was essential for the diagnosis; 3) supportive cases, which are those cases where either the light or the electron microscopic diagnosis is supportive and confirmatory to the other; and 4) new facts cases, which are those that establish new knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of disease using electron microscopy as the investigative modality. The 51 cases are grouped anatomically in eight major categories. Separate indices for presenting symptoms, differential diagnostic groups, ultrastructural pathology criteria, and final diagnostic categories are provided, as well. This guide will be useful to physicians and students of medicine, structure, and disease. It also makes an ideal operational guide and text for support staff training.