SECRETORY ACTIVITY OF MAST-CELLS IN PRESENCE OF CHOLINERGIC STIMULUS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (4) , 441-446
Abstract
Mast cells from rat peritoneal fluid were studied under cholinergic stimulus. The cells were purified by a continuous Ficoll gradient and were challenged with acetylcholine and carbamyl-choline. The preparations showed the typical dose-response pattern against compound 48/80 with a dose interval of 0.5 to 1 .mu.M that clearly increased the secretion. The histamine release elicited by increasing concentrations of acetylcholine and carbamylcholine was of little magnitude and similar for all the concentrations; this kind of response does not have a dose-response profile and does not appear to be explained by the presence of a cholinergic receptor on the mast cell cellular membranes. The cholinergic agents neither stimulated directly the mast cells nor did they cause any variation in the 48/80 response. The histamine release pattern obtained with these agents cannot support the hypothesis of a primary cholinergic receptor on mast cells. If such receptor existed, its action could only be of secondary importance, and in fact such action was not manifested with compound 48/80.