Selective release of histamine from rat mast cells by compound 48-80 and anitgen.

JOHNSON, ALICE R., AND NEIL C. MORAN. Selective release of histamine from rat mast cells by compound 48/80 and antigen. Am. J. Physiol. 216(3) : 453-459. 1969.-To test the hypothesis that rat mast cells are not disrupted by the action of histamine-releasing agents such as compound 48/80 and antigen, suspensions of mast cells were treated with these agents and the release of histamine and other intracellular substances was measured. Release of histamine by compound 48/80 or antigen was not accompanied by release of protein, lactic dehydrogenase, ATP, or the bulk of 42K with which the cells were labeled during previous in vitro incubation. In contrast, mast cells treated with distilled water, ultrasound, or detergent (Triton X-100) released protein, lactic dehydrogenase, ATP, and most of the accumulated 42K as well as histamine. Acid phosphatase, released from the cells by distilled water or detergent but not by antigen or 48/80, probably came from a small number of contaminating macrophages in the isorated mast cell preparations. A small amount of 42K was released by 48/80 within the time course of histamine release. This small portion of potassium was probably associated with the mast cel1 granules. Assuming that histamine release by 48/80 and antigen from mast cells indicates release of the granules or their contents, these data support the concept that 48/80 and antigen selectively degranulate mast cells without disrupting cell membranes.