In this video, we're going to briefly discuss eosinophils. Recall from some of our previous lesson videos that eosinophils are one of the three types of granulocytes, and the primary role of eosinophils is to protect against parasitic worms or helminths. Now, the granules of these eosinophils actually have antimicrobial substances that bind parasites, and they also contain enzymes that disrupt the membrane permeability of those parasites. These eosinophils are geared to destroying and killing these parasitic worms or helminths that may try to invade and infect our bodies. Eosinophils can also be involved with the symptoms associated with allergies. We'll be able to talk a little bit more about allergies later in our course.
Again, we're showing you an eosinophil here. This eosinophil is going to contain cytoplasmic granules that can stain a reddish color, and they can be released into the environment so that their antimicrobial substances and enzymes can help defend against parasitic worms such as the helminth you see right here. These eosinophils, again, are important for defending against parasitic worms and helminths and can also be important for some of the symptoms associated with allergies.
This here concludes our brief lesson on eosinophils. Once again, we'll be able to apply some of these concepts as we move forward, and then we'll get to talk a little bit about the last type of granulocyte, the basophils. I'll see you all in our next video.