Apoptotic and lytic cell death
The video on the previous page also illustrates one way of starting apoptosis which is programmed or controlled cell death. During apoptosis the cell is "turned off" and neatly demolished into small membrane enclosed packages ready for disposal. In this way no intracellular material leaks out to damage or alert surrounding cells, which is the exact opposite of lytic cell death where the cell basically explodes! Compare apoptotic and lytic cell death in these two videos:
You can see these membrane vesicles as bubbles around the apoptosing cell.
But now back to degranulation! As we said, the released substances are aimed at hitting survival and propagation of invading pathogens, but also to attract and activate other immune cells. So what are these substances and what do they do?