Bertil Diamant

Histamine Release from Washed Whole Blood

Measurement of histamine release from basophilic leukocytes is a useful tool in the diagnosis of type I allergy. The modifications described in this paper – among others, the use of washed whole blood

The effects of adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) on structure and amine content of rat peritoneal mast cells☆

Abstract The effects of adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) on amine content and cell structure of rat peritoneal mast cells were studied by amine assay as well as by light, fluorescence and electron microscopy. ATP was found to release both histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine from the cells. Under the experimental conditions employed the amine release was accompanied by the following characteristic morphological changes in the cells: configurational alterations as well as volume increases, contraction of mitochondria, and an intracellular dissolution of granules and cytoplasmic membrane systems. Lastly, ATP was found to exert certain uncommon effects on the nuclear envelope. The morphological findings differ distinctly from those observed in mast cells subjected to various other amine-releasing agents.

Non-degranulating structural changes of rat mast cells induced by antigen and toluidine blue☆

Abstract The effect of antigen and toluidine blue on the morphology of sensitized and non-sensitized rat mast cells resp. were studied by light microscopy. The morphological changes on mast cells after incubation with these agents always consisted of degranulation of the cells. After local application of the agents, however, various intracellular morphological changes gradually occurred which rarely led to degranulation. The local effect of antigen and toluidine blue on the mast cell were in certain respects similar to those earlier described for ATP. It is proposed that degranulation induced by antigen and toluidine blue represent a cellular response which occurs when too much of the cell membrane suddenly is stimulated, whereas intracellular morphological changes without degranulation is consistent with a more discrete stimulation of the mast cell.