Electron microscopic changes of bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells after injection into the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice

Intracellular localization of serotonin in mast cells of the colon in normal and colitis rats

Intracellular localization of serotonin (5-HT) in the mast cells of two phenotypes in normal rat colon and dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis was studied by immunoelectron microscopy with a quantitative analysis of the distribution of immunogold labelling. Mucosal mast cells in normal rats contained round shape secretory granules with varying electron density. Immunogold labelling for 5-HT was concentrated over the secretory granules. In mucosal mast cells from colitis rats, vacuolated granules without 5-HT labelling were frequently observed and immunogold labelling over the secretory granules was significantly increased compared to controls. On the other hand, connective tissue mast cells in normal rats contained oval shape secretory granules with homogeneous electron density. Their immunogold labelling was diffusely scattered over the secretory granules as well as over the cytoplasm. In connective tissue mast cells from colitis rats, secretory granules with high electron density were increased and the immunogold labelling over the secretory granules was much higher than that in controls. The present results suggest that intracellular localization of 5-HT is different in two phenotypes of mast cells and they may release 5-HT in a different manner. Mucosal mast cells may release 5-HT by a degranulation or exocytosis, while connective tissue mast cells may release 5-HT by a diacrine manner of secretion.

Comparative electron microscopy of basophils and mast cells, in vivo and in vitro

We compared the fine structure and electron microscopic cytochemical findings of basophils and mast cells from humans, guinea pigs, rabbits, mice and rats. The particulate structure was the most frequently observed and most typical structure of human and rabbit basophil granules and of guinea pig mast cell granules. The most prominent feature of guinea pig basophils and murine mast cells was that the fine structure of the granules was homogeneous. The fine structure of the granules in guinea pig basophils resembled that in murine mast cells, while the fine structure of the granules of guinea pig mast cells resembled those in human and rabbit mast cells. In mouse mast cells in culture, the majority of the granules contained small vesicles, which were also observed in human basophils in culture and in mouse basophils in vivo. The degrees of cytochemical reactivity of acid mucopolysaccharides among the species were different. Peroxidase activity was positive in most basophils and in human mast cells. Among mammals, the granules of basophils and mast cells present heterogeneous fine structure. It is of interest that the basophil granules of some species resemble the mast cell granules rather than the basophil granules of other species.