Isolation of guinea pig basophils using anti-leukocyte antibody and density gradient centrifugation on Percoll

Peripheral blood basophils were isolated from guinea pigs using a 2-step procedure. Initial enrichment of basophils was achieved by treating leukocyte preparations obtained from whole blood with antibody to contaminating granulocytes and mononuclear cells. Basophil populations of 82% purity (mean; range 65-99%) were obtained by subsequent application of the antibody treated preparation to discontinuous Percoll gradients. The isolated basophils were viable and shown to be functional by histamine release upon stimulation with various secretogogues.