Further thoughts on mast cells, calcium channels and histamine release.
Calcium movements across membranes of mast cells represent a major target for effective anti-allergic drugs, as these are essential events linking stimulation to secretion. Using isolated peritoneal mast cells from two types of genetically different rats and a blocker of the entry of calcium ions into cells, histamine release induced by antigen, calcium ionophore and potassium (in a lowered calcium medium) has been followed. Lower concentrations of the calcium entry blocker were required to inhibit potassium-induced release than those needed for release induced by allergic and other non-allergic stimuli, suggesting that different specialised calcium channels are involved in histamine release from rat mast cells.
Department of Medical Sciences and Health Studies, Polytechnic of East London, UK.
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D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006636:Histamine Release; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
D015220:Calcium Channels; C006014:8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate; D005707:Gallic Acid; D011188:Potassium