basophilic
Definition
- Adjective:
- Staining readily with basic dyes: In biology and histology, "basophilic" describes cells, tissues, or cellular components that have an affinity for and readily absorb basic (alkaline) dyes during microscopic preparation. This property is often due to the presence of acidic molecules like nucleic acids (DNA, RNA).
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The cytoplasm of plasma cells is intensely basophilic due to abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum.
- Basophilic stippling is an important diagnostic feature observed in red blood cells in certain blood disorders.
- Under the microscope, the basophilic regions of the nucleus appear dark blue.
Advanced Usage
- "Basophilic substance": Refers to any biological material that stains with basic dyes.
- The Nissl bodies in neurons are a classic example of a basophilic substance.
- "Basophilic leukocyte": An older term sometimes used for a type of white blood cell, more commonly known as a basophil.
- Basophilic leukocytes are involved in allergic reactions and inflammatory responses.
Variants and Related Words
- Basophil (noun): A type of white blood cell (granulocyte) whose granules stain readily with basic dyes.
- Basophils release histamine during an allergic response.
- Basophilia (noun): 1. The property of being basophilic. 2. An increase in the number of basophils in the blood.
- Cytoplasmic basophilia indicates high protein synthesis activity.
Synonyms
- Alkaliphilic: Having an affinity for alkaline substances or conditions. (Note: This is a broader term not exclusively used for staining.)
- Base-loving: A literal, non-technical translation of the term's Greek roots ( + ).
Related Phrases
- Basophilic staining: The technique or result of using basic dyes to highlight certain cellular components.
- Basophilic staining with hematoxylin clearly delineates the nuclear material.
- Basophilic normoblast: A stage in the development of a red blood cell that has a basophilic cytoplasm.
- The basophilic normoblast is characterized by a deep blue cytoplasm under the microscope.
Related Idioms
(No common idioms are directly associated with this specific scientific term.)
Adjective
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staining readily with basic dyes
