Which cell type contains histamine in its granules?

Which cell type contains histamine in its granules?

• A. Neutrophils
• B. Eosinophils
• C. Basophils
• D. Macrophages

Answer: (C)

Histamine is stored in granules of certain granulocytes, and among the options listed, basophils are the ones with histamine-packed granules. These granules also contain heparin, and when basophils release their contents, histamine causes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability—key features of allergic inflammation. Neutrophils and eosinophils have different granular contents (enzymes and cytotoxic proteins, not histamine), and macrophages don’t store histamine in their granules. So basophils are the cells that contain histamine in their granules.

Histamine is stored in granules of certain granulocytes, and among the options listed, basophils are the ones with histamine-packed granules. These granules also contain heparin, and when basophils release their contents, histamine causes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability—key features of allergic inflammation. Neutrophils and eosinophils have different granular contents (enzymes and cytotoxic proteins, not histamine), and macrophages don’t store histamine in their granules. So basophils are the cells that contain histamine in their granules.