Abstract
Summary
During administration of cortisone (to humans, rabbits, mice, and guinea pigs the number of mast cells in the connective tissue is decreased. At the same time alterations are lobserved in the number and distribution of their granules, in the shape and outlines of the cells, and vacuolization occurs.
Since mast cells are presumably the origin of hyaluronic acid in the connective-tissue ground substance, this suppressive action is important when viewed against the background of the clinical effect of cortisone on connective-tissue diseases in the increased amounts of hyalunonic acid play an essential pathogenetic role.
Afster these studies were completed, Frank Blloom (PROC. SOC. EXP. BIOL. AND MED., 1952, v79, 651), has reported his experiments with malignant multiple mast cell tumors (mastocytomata). The tumors rapidly regressed and disappeared, and the neoplastic mast cells showed morphological changes like those described above.
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