Influence of Hypophysis and Adrenal Cortex upon Tissue Mast Cell of the Rat

Abstract

Finding( 1-3) of changes in number and cytology of tissue mast cells after administration of adrenworticotropic hormone ( lAICTH) and cortisone has suggested that the pituitaryadrenal system exerts a controlling influence on the mast cell. The present paper describes attempts to explore this possibility further.Methods. Examinations of the behavior of tissue mast cell were made in whole mounts (4) of skin and mesentery of young adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats (20'0 g) at various times after adrenlalectomy, hypophysectomy and treatment with X-irradiation, ACTH, adrenal cortical extract, desoxycorticosterone acetate or cortisone. Adrenalectomized rats and their controls were allowed to drink only 1 a/o NaCl solution; hypophysectomized anim l s and their controls were confined to 20% sucrose solution. In addistion to regular diet of Rockland checkers, the hypophysectomid animals had access to oranges, lettuce, bread, and ground meat. Tissues were fixed in alcohol and stained with toluidine blue, as previously described (4). Tissues from intact or mock-operated controls were simultaneously studied. The radiation factors were 250 kv, 15 ma, 0.5 mm Cu and 3.0 mm Bakelite filters, 26.7 cm target distance, 1.5 mm Cu half-value layer and 215-225 r per minute. Mast cell counts were made on stained tissues, separate note taken of normal cells and atypical cells, i.e. degenerated cells with vacuoles and clumped granules(4,S). On a single slide from each animal, thirty contiguous fields, 0.0676 mm2 each, were counted at a magnification factor of 264.The only change in mast cells which could be identified with certainty was an increase in number of cells showing vacuolation and conglomeration of cytoplasmic granules. The allteratims were similar to those previously found by us in irradiated animals (4) and by others in aged tissue cultures of Results.*With assistance of Sally T. Hartig.mast cells ( 6) , edematous tissue and stimulated urticaria pigmentosa lesions ( 7), and after treatment with toluidine blue( 8), nitrogen mustard (9), ACTH ( 1 ) and cortisone ( 1,2 ) .In none of the present studies were there statistically significant changes in total mast cell number.Adrenalectomy was without influence upun the mast cell or upon its response to X-irradiation. Groups of 3 to 101 rats were examined at 2, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 316 days after a d r e n a b 'tomy. Number of cells countedr2.028 mm2 of skin varied between 404 land 6 10 in adrenalectomized and 458 and 608 in mock-operated animals. The per cent of abnormal cells was approximately the same in both groups of animals (.2 to 1.2% of all cells). At 2 weeks after adrenalectomy or mock-operation rats were subjected to single, total-body exposures to 600 r. Groups of 3 rats were examined at various intervals after irradiation. Number of cells counted/2.028 mm2 of skin varied between 328 and 676 in adrenalectomized, irradiated land 339 and 8316 in mock-operated, irradiated rats. The per cent of abnormal cells was 10, 33.3,33.6, 7.0, 3.4 and 2.9 in the adrenalectomized and 10.1, 42...

The Effect of Cortisone Acetate on Albino Rabbit Choroidal Mast Cells

“…A decreased radioactive suffer incorpo ration into cytoplasmic granules was reported by Asboe-H ansen [1954] after cortisone treatment. Smith and Lewis [1954] feel that morphological changes do occur after ACTH administration, but uveal mast cells are too variable in form to assess by this method.…”