DE-GRANULATION OF OCULAR MAST-CELLS IN RATS UNDERGOING SYSTEMIC-ANAPHYLAXIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 19  (12) , 1521-1524
Abstract
The percentage of degranulated ocular mast cells in 5 egg albumin-immunized, systemically challenged rats was compared with that in 5 egg albumin-immunized, saline-challenged controls. For the lid and orbit, at least 100 mast cells per rat were evaluated. For the conjunctiva, tarsus, limbus and episclera-sclera, at least 20 were evaluated. For the ciliary body and choroid, all mast cells in 15 sections separated by at least 15 .mu.m were examined. The morphology of degranulated and intact mast cells was the same in the experimental and control animals, except for the change in granules. There were significantly more degranulated mast cells in most of the ocular tissues of rats undergoing systemic anaphylaxis than in tissues of control rats; the increase in degranulated cells was especially striking in the choroid. Degranulation of mast cells is a measure of anaphylaxis, provided that the number of degranulated mast cells, and not simply the presence of such cells, is considered and compared with appropriate controls.

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