If the blood is allowed to clot before centrifugation, the yellow liquid obtained is called serum. The different ability of these cells to take up different dyes reflects different charge characteristics of the cells, which is caused by the presence of different molecules in their cytoplasm and granules. The presence of different cytoplasmic and granular molecules reflects functional differences between the three subsets. This can be used for anaerobic glycolysis and allows neutrophils to function in damaged tissue where oxygen level may be low.
Neutrophils are generally the first cells to arrive at the site of inflammation.
Destruction of such parasites is thought to be the major function of eosinophils. At this point they swell to 5-10 times their original size, increase their phagocytic capability, increase the content of hydrolytic enzymes in their cytoplasm, increase the number of mitochondria to supply more energy and enlarge the Golgi apparatus to produce more lysosomes. They are similar to granulocytes, however, in that they are capable of phagocytosis, and the respiratory burst and they have fine granules in their cytoplasm. Asbestos particles kill macrophages after phagocytosis. The killed macrophage releases lysosomal enzymes and reactive oxygen metabolites into the tissues which cause tissue destruction, inflammation and scar formation.