Abstract
In re: Noli C, Welle M, Scarampella F, and Abramo F: Quantitative analysis of tryptase- and chymase-containing mast cells in eosinophilic conditions of cats. Vet Pathol 40: 219–221, 2003.
There appear to be a number of discrepancies in the above article.
1. In the abstract, Noli et al. state, “It is the first time that MCc have been identified.” However, in the text of the article (p. 220, right column, paragraphs 3 and 4) the following statement is made, “In normal feline skin, MCT and MCC have been identified, but MCTC has not been described due to unavailability of double-labelling techniques in this species. This is the first time that the MCTC subtype is reported in feline skin.”
2. The statement commencing with “In normal feline skin, MCT and MCC have been identified” is referenced to Beadleston DL, Roosje P, and Goldschmidt MH: Chymase and tryptase staining of normal feline skin and of feline cutaneous mast cell tumours. Vet Allergy Clin Immunol 5:54–58, 1997. In the abstract of this article Beadleston et al. state, “Ninety percent of mast cells contained both tryptase and chymase (MCTC),” referring to normal skin from 10 healthy cats.
3. Another article, unreferenced by Noli et al., reported the existence of MCTC cells localized within the ear (skin), tongue, spleen, and submucosa of the rectum of normal healthy cats. The reference is Noviana D, Kono F, Nagakui Y, Shimizu H, Mamba K, Makimura S, and Horii Y: Distribution and enzyme histochemical characterisation of mast cells in cats. Histochem J 33: 597–603, 2001.
Please accept my comments in the spirit in which they are intended—as a catalyst to healthy academic discussion. Thank you in advance for your time in answering this enquiry.