After the intraperitoneal injections of alloxan, carbon tetrachloride, cortisone acetate, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, morphine hydrochloride, toluidin blue, physiological saline solution, distilled water, and direct stimulation with electronic current, the peritoneal mast cells of the rat were observed in order to document and study the cytomorphic changes. Adult Sprague-Dawley strain albion rats were used. The substances tested were dissolved in physiological saline solution and injected into the abdominal cavity. Three to twenty four hours later the rats were sacrificed and the morphological changes of the peritoneal mast cells were observed by means of phase contrast microscopy and ordinary light microscopy. Cytomorphic effects of alloxan on the mast cells were comparatively marked and those effects of CC14, cortisone, ACTH, morphine-HCI, and physiological saline solution were slight and similar to each other. But the distructive effects of toluidin blue, distilled water, and electronic stimulation on the mast cells were severe and noticeable in this study. These results indicate that the intraperitmeal mast cells of rats show more sensitive reactions to a metabolic poisn alloxan, a low osmotic pressured-material distilled water, and a histamine liberator toluidin blue, and a physical stimulus electronic stimulation than the other similar chemical agents.
Animal ; Electric Stimulation* ; Hormones/pharmacology* ; Mast Cells/cytology* ; Mast Cells/drug effects* ; Rats

Histological studies were carried out on the degranulation of mesenteric mast cells of albino rats in which excised pieces of rat mesentery were incubated in media containing morphine and meperidine hydrochloride. The following conclusions were obtained. 1. The experimental dose of 0.04mg./ml. of morphine hydrochloride in Tyrode solution for the incubated mesenteric pieces brought about the degranulation of mast cells. 2. The experimental dose of 0.04mg./ml. of meperidine hydrochloride in Tyrode solution for the incubation of the mesenteric pieces did not effect the cytological changes of the mast cells. 3. By the addition of metabolic inhibitor such as iodoacetic acid to the incubating medium the degranulation of the mast cells was remarkably inhibited for the group in which the incubation was carried out for 20 minutes. However, the inhibition of the degranulation of the mast cells due to the metabolic inhibitor was abolished after 30 minutes of incubation. Consequently the authors have demonstrated the effect of morphine hydrochloride in its ability to induce a degranulation of mesenteric mast cells in vitro.
Animal ; In Vitro ; Male ; Mast Cells/cytology ; Mast Cells/drug effects* ; Meperidine/pharmacology* ; Mesentery/cytology ; Mesentery/drug effects* ; Morphine/pharmacology* ; Rabbits

Morphological effects of degranulation upon me-senteric mast cells of albino rats (SPrague-Dawley strain) by means of lipid administration were studied. An evident degranulation of metachromatic granules from mesenteric tissue mast cells was observed in more than half of experimental rats which were intraperitoneally given 10cc of stearic monoglyceride suspension in warm Tyrode solution (5Omg. of stearic monoglyceride in 10cc of Tyrode solution). A fairly light degranulation of metachro-matic granules from mesenteric mast cells was also displayed by the rats fed ad libitum with butter for 6 hours after being deprived of food for 24 hours.
Animals ; Cytoplasmic Granules/*drug effects ; Lipids/*pharmacology ; Mast Cells/*drug effects ; Mesentery/cytology ; Rats

Mast cells are widely distributed in various parts of the body, especially in the mucosal surface between the body and the external environment. Mast cell is one of the important immune cells and plays important roles in innate immunity, adaptive immunity and immune regulation. Previous researches have shown that excessive activation of mast cells is closely related to the development of allergic and inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, acute and chronic itching. Mast cells infiltrate into the inflammation site and release various allergic mediators during the occurrence and development of these diseases. Therefore, termination of mast cell activation can be one of the effective methods for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases, and receptors related to mast cell activation are potential targets for the development of anti-allergic drugs. There are many receptors related to mast cell activation, and the effects mediated by different receptors varied from each other. In the recent years, new mast cell receptors are being discovered, but there are not many literatures discussing the possible functions of these newly discovered receptors. This review aims to summarize the receptors involved in mast cell activation and classify related receptors according to their effects.
Asthma ; immunology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammation ; immunology ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) on the expression of type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in chondrocytes co-cultured with BMMCs.

METHODSPrimarily cultured mouse BMMCs at 4 weeks and the second passage of chondrocytes were plated in a Transwell co-cultured system at a ratio of 1:10 in the presence or absence of sodium cromoglycate (DSCG) or compound 48/80 (C48/80). The chondrocytes were harvested and lysed for detecting type II collagen expression with ELISA and Western blotting and GAG expression using 1,9 dimethylmethylene blue (DBM).

RESULTSAfter a 24-hour culture, the chondrocytes co-cultured with BMMCs showed similar expression levels of type II collagen and GAG to the control group regardless of the presence of DSCG (P>0.05). Compared with chondrocytes cultured alone or with BMMCs, the co-cultured chondrocytes in the presence of C48/80 showed significantly lower expressions of type II collagen and GAG (P<0.01). Such results did not vary significantly as the culture time was extended to 48 h.

CONCLUSIONC48/80-activated BMMCs can reduce the expression of type II collagen and GAG in chondrocytes in the co-culture system.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Coculture Techniques ; Collagen Type II ; metabolism ; Glycosaminoglycans ; metabolism ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; Mice

AIMTo examine the ability of calcium ionophore (CI) to induce tryptase and histamine release from human mast cells and its mechanisms.

METHODSEnzymatically dispersed cells from human colons were challenged with CI, and the cell supernatants after challenge were collected. Tryptase release was determined with a sandwich ELISA procedure and histamine release was measured using a glass fibre-based fluorometric assay.

RESULTSCI was able to induce a concentration dependent release of histamine and tryptase from human colon mast cells following 15 min incubation. The maximum of induced histamine and tryptase release were approximately 5.3 and 2.8 fold more than the levels of spontaneous release, respectively. CI at the concentrations higher than 1.0 micromol/L was able to induce significantly more histamine than tryptase release from mast cells. The time course revealed that the action of CI on mast cells started from 10 s, peaked at 6 min and lasted at least 15 min following incubation. Pertussis toxin and metabolic inhibitors were able to inhibit mast cell response to CI.

CONCLUSIONHuman colon mast cells were able to release tryptase and histamine in response to CI. The process seemed to be associated with the activation of a G-protein coupled receptor on the membrane of mast cells and requires cell energy supply.

Calcium Ionophores ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Colon ; cytology ; Histamine ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; secretion ; Tryptases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic significance of basophil activation test (BAT) in anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media through testing the content of CD63, mast cell-carboxypeptidase A3 (MC-CPA3), and terminal complement complex SC5b-9 of the individuals by testing their levels in the normal immune group and the anaphylaxis groups to β-lactam drugs and non -ionic contrast media. METHODS: The CD63 expression of basophilic granulocyte in blood was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of MC-CPA3 in blood serum and SC5b-9 in blood plasma were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The CD63 expression of basophilic granulocyte in blood, the levels of MC-CPA3 and SC5b-9 of anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media and β-lactam drugs were significantly higher than that in normal immune group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION There is activation of basophilic granulocytes, mast cells and complement system in anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media. BAT can be used to diagnose the anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media.
Anaphylaxis/diagnosis* ; Basophils/cytology* ; Carboxypeptidases A/metabolism* ; Complement Membrane Attack Complex/metabolism* ; Contrast Media ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes/cytology* ; Humans ; Mast Cells/cytology* ; Tetraspanin 30/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the inflammatory cells in the mucosa at the medial aspect of the normal uncinate process compared with that on the protected lateral aspect of the normal uncinate process. METHOD: The mucosa of 20 uncinate process from the nasal cavity of 17 patients with no evidence of sinus disease undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery were recruited for the study. The material was stained with HE, Chromotrope 2R, Alcian blue-periodic acid-schiff, Toluidine blue. Specimens were observed using an Olympus microscope. RESULT: The number of mast cells and goblet cells were found to be higher on the lateral aspect of the normal uncinate process than on the medial aspect. The number of plasma cells was obviously different from that of lymphocytes. We did not found any eosinophils on either sides of uncinate process. CONCLUSION There are differences in the number of mast cells and goblet cells between the mucosa at the medial aspect of the normal uncinate process and the mucosa at the protected lateral aspect of the normal uncinate process.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Ethmoid Sinus ; pathology ; Female ; Goblet Cells ; cytology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; pathology ; Paranasal Sinuses ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of mast cells (MC) in colon tissue of Hirschsprung disease (HD) and explore the role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of HD.

METHODSForty-one cases of HD (male 23, female 18), age from 2 months to 15 years, and eight age-matched normal cases were enrolled in this study. The distribution of MC in all layers of colon was examined by immunohistochemistry with mouse antihuman mast cell tryptase monoclonal antibody.

RESULTSThe count of MC in all layers of colon aganglionic segments of HD was significantly higher as compared with colon ganglionic segments of HD and normal controls (21.47+/-3.59 vs 3.18+/-0.87, 2.75+/-0.51). The average optical density values(A) of MC in aganglionic and ganglionic segments significantly decreased as compared to normal control (0.38+/-0.10,0.31+/-0.11 vs 0.51+/-0.08).

CONCLUSIONMast cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HD.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hirschsprung Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tryptases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of estrogen-mediated experimental endometriosis in rats.

METHODSEndometriosis model was established by transplanting autologous fragments of uterus to the inner surface of the abdominal wall in 24 un-pregnant female Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were divided randomly into three groups (n=8 in each group), and were injected with different doses of estrogen: high-dose group (200 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹), low-dose group (100 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) and the control group (0 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹). The ovaries were surgically removed in high-dose and low-dose groups. Four rats were sacrificed in each group at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery. Their serum estradiol levels, size of lesions, total number of mast cells and degranulations, serum TNF-α levels, expression of tryptase and NGF in tissues were analyzed and compared among groups.

RESULTSThe mean levels of serum estradiol 2 weeks and 4 weeks after model established and serum TNF-α at 4 weeks in estrogen-treated groups were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). The mean size of endometriotic lesions in the estrogen-treated groups was also significantly larger than that in the control group 2 weeks and 4 weeks after model established (all P<0.05). Meanwhile, both at week 2 and week 4, the mean ratio of degranulation/total number of mast cells by toluidine blue staining in low-dose estrogen group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of NGF in high-dose estrogen group was significantly higher than that in the control group at week 4(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEstrogen can promote the growth of endometriotic lesions and may mediate the pathogenesis of endometriosis by activating mast cells, which may be associated with increasing TNF-α and NGF levels.

Animals ; Cell Degranulation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endometriosis ; pathology ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Female ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood