The nucleus in its mature form may have 3 to 5 lobes, connected together with fine threads of nuclear material. The granules in the cytoplasm are usually lightly stained, and may appear to be pink to purple. The granules in the neutrophil are lysosomes, and the neutrophil is a phagocyte, particularly for bacteria. They are commonly found in the tissues at the site of bacterial invasions. Click here to see neutrophils.
Eosinophils are much less common than neutrophils.
Their function is not completely understood, but it's known that eosinophils are involved in allergic responses. In tissues in which a wheal reaction has occurred, they're especially numerous, and the eosinophil count goes up during an allergy attack. They are probably phagocytes specifically directed against antigen-antibody complexes. To view an eosinophil, click here. Basophils are by far the rarest of the granulocytes, and are believed to be absent from cats, rats, and mice.