2.4 Mast cells
    • A connective tissue cell that contains coarse, basophilic, metachromatic secretory granules; the granules contain heparin, histamine and eosinophilic chemotactic factor. These cells are involved in immediate hypersensitivity reactions and play a role in the regulation of the composition of ground substance. Syn: tissue basophil, granule cell of connective tissue, labrocyte, mastocyte.

graphic
Fig. 5-8 Activation of mast cells in type I hypersensitivity and release of their mediators. ECF, eosinophil chemotactic factor; NCF, neutrophil chemotactic factor; PAF, platelet- activating factor.
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