Final answer:
Heparin is an anticoagulant that prevents blood clots, and histamine is a vasodilator that dilates blood vessels during inflammatory responses. Both substances are released from basophils and play key roles in the body's immune response and in indicating various health conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The granules of basophils contain heparin and histamine. Heparin serves as an anticoagulant, working to prevent blood clots by opposing the activity of prothrombin, which is an essential protein for the clotting process. Histamine, on the other hand, functions primarily as a vasodilator during inflammatory responses. This means that histamine helps to dilate blood vessels, which increases blood flow to tissues and contributes to the symptoms of inflammation, such as swelling, redness, and itching - typical reactions seen in allergic responses.
Basophils and mast cells release these substances to regulate the body's immune response and blood flow, often during infections or injuries, and their activities can signal various health conditions. High counts of basophils might indicate allergies, parasitic infections, or hypothyroidism, while low counts can be associated with stress or hyperthyroidism.