title: Mast-cell-mediated angiogenesis: a novel experimental model using the rat mesentery.
abstract: The angiogenic effect of autogenous secreting mast cells (MCs) was studied using a novel experimental approach. The virtually avascular membranous rat mesentery was used as test tissue. The activation of MCs was elicited by repeated intraperitoneal injections of the MC-secretagogue compound 48/80, which per se appears inert from the proliferogenic and angiogenic point of view. Angiogenesis was quantitated histologically and expressed the number of vessels/unit length of mesentery. The smallest vessels recognized had a luminal area of approximately 7-8 microns 2 (corresponding to a circular diameter of 3.0-3.2 microns). Seven to ten days after MC-activation ended, the number of blood vessels had increased 7- to 6-fold. A retrogressive reaction occurred between days 21 and 38 after treatment, when the number of vessels had essentially normalized, as compared to vehicle-treated controls. The present study, introducing the membranous mesentery as a model for quantitative angiogenetic studies, provides evidence that MCs can induce angiogenesis, which is new. The possible therapeutic implication of this finding is noteworthy.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008643:Mesentery / Q000098:blood supply*; D051379:Mice; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine