Structural changes induced in rat leukemic basophils by immunological stimulus

Abstract We have examined morphological events in RBL-2H3 basophilic leukocyte-derived cells following stimulation to secrete with specific antigen. Following stimulation, the cell surface undergoes a rapid and pronounced ruffling concomitant with an overall-flattering. Secretory granules which are located in one are before timulation become rapidly dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Since secretion has been shown to be a relatively slow process in the RBL-2H3 cell line our observations suggest that ruffling and flattening precede the secretion process.