Proliferation of mast cells in normal and DMBA-treated mouse skin

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To examine the pattern of proliferation of mast cells in the skin of Swiss Webster mice, single or multiple pulses of 3H-thymidine, autoradiography and selective staining techniques were combined ''to detect DNA synthesis. A very low labeling index was found for the mast cells of normal skin, but alteration of the mast-cell population using the chemical carcinogen dimethylbenzathracene led to increased labeling of mast cells. A series of studies of experimentally altered skin showed a pattern of mast cell labeling which suggested derivation of new mast cells by local self-replication. The labeling pattern indicated that mast cells labeled after 1 h divided to produce 2 daughter cells and that the rate of increase in the number of labeled mast cells following repeated labeling for up to 20 days was linear. These data do not suggest major recruitment of mast cells from a distant source during this period.