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- Current: May 15, 2023
Granulocyte
Granulocytes are a type of leukocyte that has granules. There are three types of granulocytes in blood.
| Neutrophils | Granules are stained by neutral dyes |
| Eosinophils | Granules are stained by acidic dyes |
| Basophils | Granules are stained by basic dyes |
The granules are secretory vessels containing various molecules including enzymes and cytokines.
Granocytes present in tissues are called mast cells.
Definitions in the literature
- A type of immune cell that has granules (small particles) with enzymes that are released during infections, allergic reactions, and asthma. Neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils are granulocytes. A granulocyte is a type of white blood cell. Also called granular leukocyte, PMN, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte [1].
- Any white blood cell that contains granular material (secretory vessels) and lysosomes in its cytoplasm. Neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils are examples of granulocytes [2].
