Irritating substance extracted from the Thaumetopoea pityocampa caterpillar; mechanism of action.
Hairs of the Thaumetopoea pityocampa caterpillar (Lepidoptera) cause cutaneous reactions in men and animals. A soluble substance extracted from the hairs has been shown to cause a reaction in guinea-pig skin, probably caused by mediators released by mast cells. A direct effect of this substance on mast cells has been shown. Degranulation of mast cells was found to be dose-dependent. Heating of this substance greatly reduced its effects. Proteins fractions are currently being extracted and will be submitted to the same tests.
D000818:Animals; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects; D003885:Dermotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006197:Hair / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007814:Larva / Q000032:analysis; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*
D003885:Dermotoxins