Effects of prolonged incubation of rat peritoneal mast cells with compound 48/80

Abstract
Rat peritoneal mast cells (MC) co‐cultured on a monolayer of 3T3 fibroblasts (MC/3T3) were continuously exposed to compound 48/80 for 14 days. As early as 2 days following continuous exposure to compound 48/80, the MC/3T3 appeared as a heterogeneous population, with various MC appearing partially or fully degranulated or intact; this morphological pattern continued throughout the duration of the experiment. MC/3T3 remained functionally active as demonstrated by their ability to secrete histamine 15 min after each replacement with fresh medium containing compound 48/80, although this capacity diminished towards the end of the 14‐day experiment. Concomitant with the histamine release, a significant increase in cellular histamine pools was observed. When MC/3T3 continuously exposed to compound 48/80 for 7 or 14 days were acutely challenged with anti‐IgE antibodies, they were able to secrete histamine and prostaglandin D2 in amounts similar to those produced by control MC. In contrast, when these cells were challenged on day 7 or 14 with a higher dose of compound 48/80 or with substance P, the release of histamine was partially inhibited. Our results indicate that continuous in vitro exposure to compound 48/80, and the resulting MC degranulation product histamine, does not adversely affect the ability of MC/3T3 to synthesize histamine and to respond to activation stimuli of a related secretagogue for 7 days and a non‐related one for at least 14 days.