title: Increased activity of the intestinal mucosal mast cells in rats with multiple organ failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to evaluate the changes in the activity of the intestinal mucosal mast cells (IMMC) in multiple organ failure (MOF).
  
  
  METHODS
  A rat model of MOF was induced by intraperitoneal injection of zymosan. Both the functional alterations and the pathological morphology of essential organs, such as small intestine, liver, kidney and the lungs, were evaluated. The concentrations of histamine and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in plasma and small intestinal tissue were detected by fluorimetric assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The ultrastructural changes of the IMMC from the MOF rats were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Zymosan induced obvious inflammatory morphology and functional impairment in the essential organs of the rats that were indicative of the characteristic changes in MOF. There was a significantly decreased concentration of histamine in the intestinal tissue of the MOF rats when compared with the normal controls (8.67 +/- 1.16 vs 11.63 +/- 1.97 ng/g protein, P < 0.01), whereas the plasma histamine concentration showed no significant changes. The concentration of TNF-alpha was elevated significantly in both the intestinal tissue and plasma of MOF rats. Furthermore, both the increased number and level of degranulation of the IMMC in the gut tissue was marked in MOF rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the histamine and TNF-alpha released from activated IMMC play an important role in the development of MOF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Peptides Related with Human Disease-Key Labratory of Biotherapy of Human Diseases, Ministry of Education PR China-Sichuan University, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China. cwtang@medmail.com.cn
authors.forename: Cheng Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015054:Zymosan
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006632:Histamine; D015054:Zymosan