title: Numbers and heterogeneity of mast cells in the male genital tract of the rat.
abstract: Normal adult rats were used to quantitate and characterize mast cells in the male genital tract. The tissues were either fixed in a fixative containing formalin (Schaffer solution) or with basic lead acetate (BLA) to identify 'connective-tissue mast cells' and 'mucosal mast cells', respectively. In the epididymis and seminal vesicle small numbers of mast cells were identified without any obvious heterogeneity. In the prostate, however, a mean of 45.1 +/- 9.3 and 23.0 +/- 4.0 mast cells/mm2 was found after BLA and Schaffer fixation, respectively. This difference might be of functional and clinical significance.
authors: Center of Anatomy, Medical School of Hannover, FRG.
authors: F J
authors: FJ
authors: Fritz
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Pabst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000032:analysis; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells; D005404:Fixatives; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000145:classification*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011467:Prostate / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C008262:lead acetate, basic