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.