Abstract
Summary
In vitro studies on mast cells isolated from rat peritoneal fluid revealed: Metachromatic granules were partially removed by testicular hyaluronidase, but when rats were pretreated systemically with Escherichia coli endotoxin, 2 mg iv., this effect of hyaluronidase was much more extensive. E. coli endotoxin, 0.5%, did not influence the mast cells in vitro. Metachromatic staining of the cells was prevented, and if previously stained the color was abolished, by compound 48/80 or protamine sulfate. These agents and serotonin, 0.5%, neither degranulated nor disrupted the cells, but they produced cell clumping. Heparin, over 0.005% caused cell disintegration, whereas 0.5% hyaluronic acid or histamine did not appear to affect the cells adversely. Hyaluronic acid seemed to protect them to some degree against degranulation.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.