Abstract
Summary
Serum free media from rat gingival tissue cultures contained active collagenase which was inhibited by the addition of rat serum or fetal bovine serum. The inhibitory action of serum on gingival collagenase was blocked by the addition of mast cell extract. The mast cell factor was non-dialyzable and heat stable but was inactivated by exposure to 20% TCA. Neither heparin, histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine nor extracts from a variety of other tissues could substitute for the mast cell factor in the activation of gingival collagenase. A mast cell factor may participate in the in vivo regulation of collagenase activity.
The authors thank Mrs. L. J. Rider, Mr. M. M. Campbell, Mrs. D. Woodson and Mr. M. Hickerson for technical assistance.
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