title: Mast cell heterogeneity: evidence that mast cells isolated from various connective tissue locations in the rat display markedly graded phenotypes.
abstract: The present study has extended histochemical and functional investigations into rat mast cell heterogeneity using isolated mast cells from four connective tissue locations; the peritoneum, mesentery, lung and skin. On histological examination, mast cells from these locations displayed a range of phenotypes following formalin fixation and staining with Alcian blue/safranin O, suggesting the existence of both chondroitin sulphate and heparin proteoglycans in varying proportions in these cell types. Functional studies using the structurally diverse polycationic secretagogues, compound 48/80, the polyamino acids, polymyxin B, substance P, ACTH1-24, mastoparan, protamine sulphate, histone, d-tubocurarine and ranitidine confirmed the existence of such phenotypic gradation. This investigation highlights the inappropriate usage of the terms CTMC and MMC which represent two phenotypic extremes between which a gradation of phenotypes clearly exists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Tainsh
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Pearce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002412:Cations; D002751:Chlortetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008024:Ligands; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D008643:Mesentery / Q000166:cytology; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D008024:Ligands; D000001:Calcimycin; D015759:Ionomycin; D002118:Calcium; D002751:Chlortetracycline