The polynuclear are white blood cells (or leukocytes), and therefore the body’s defense cells.

There are several types of white blood cells, including:

• the polynuclear, so named because they appear to have several nuclei
• the mononucléaires, which include the “monocytes” and the “lymphocytes«

Polynuclear cells are cells which circulate in the blood and which in fact have a multilobed nucleus (with several lobes). Inside, they contain “granulations”, which take on different colors depending on the types of polymorphonuclear cells when they are dyed with special dyes. We therefore distinguish:

• polynuclear neutrophils, whose granulations retain neutral dyes
• eosinophils, whose large granulations turn orange
• polynuclear basophils, which contain large purplish-red granules

These mobile cells travel to sites in the body where there is infection or inflammation. This migration takes place under the influence of chemical molecules emitted by the pathogen or induced by it, which attract them to the “right” place.

Polynuclear basophils are the least numerous of the polymorphonuclear ones: they represent less than 1% of the white blood cells.

Normal values ​​are less than 100 polynuclear basophils per mm³ of blood (9/the).

The measurement of white blood cells in general is recommended in many situations.

Most often, the doctor prescribes a “blood count” (hemogram) which details the concentration of different types of blood cells.

The evaluation of the concentration of polynuclear basophils in the blood is called the basocythemia.

The examination consists of a simple venous blood sample, usually carried out at the fold of the elbow. It is not necessary to be on an empty stomach.

We can observe the appearance of polymorphonuclear cells under a microscope, from a blood smear.

A moderate or sharp increase in the number of white blood cells, and in particular polynuclear basophils, can be seen in many situations:

• in case of’infection
• in case of’allergies orinflammation
• in case of’hypothyroidism, endocrine diseases
• in the case of some c
• about hematological diseases (myeloproliferative syndromes, leukemia, polycythemia, thrombocythemia).

The decrease in the number of basophils in the blood, on the contrary (basocytopenia), is difficult to detect because of the low number of these cells. It can occur in certain situations, including:

• acute stress
• Cushing’s syndrome
• administration of certain medications, such as corticosteroids