title: Stress-induced mast cell activation in glabrous and hairy skin.
abstract: Mast cells play a key role in modulation of stress-induced cutaneous inflammation. In this study we investigate the impact of repeated exposure to stress on mast cell degranulation, in both hairy and glabrous skin. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Stress 1 day (n = 8), Stress 10 days (n = 7), Stress 21 days (n = 6), and Control (n = 8). Rats in the stress groups were subjected to 2 h/day restraint stress. Subsequently, glabrous and hairy skin samples from animals of all groups were collected to assess mast cell degranulation by histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The impact of stress on mast cell degranulation was different depending on the type of skin and duration of stress exposure. Short-term stress exposure induced an amplification of mast cell degranulation in hairy skin that was maintained after prolonged exposure to stress. In glabrous skin, even though acute stress exposure had a profound stimulating effect on mast cell degranulation, it diminished progressively with long-term exposure to stress. The results of our study reinforce the view that mast cells are active players in modulating skin responses to stress and contribute to further understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms involved in stress-induced initiation or exacerbation of cutaneous inflammatory processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Boulevard, 050474 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Căruntu
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Research Laboratory, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 22-24 Gr. Manolescu, 0111234 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boda
authors.affiliation: Themis Pathology SRL, 030447 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musat
authors.affiliation: "Dan Theodorescu" Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Hospital, 17-21 Calea Plevnei, 010221 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Căruntu
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" Clinical Hospital of Nephrology, Nephropathology Department, 4 Calea Grivitei, Sector 1, 010731 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mandache
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological