The uptake of amino acids and the synthesis of amines by neoplastic mast cells in culture

The uptake of biogenic amines by neoplastic mast cells in culture

“…2; Table 5) was similar to that of histidine uptake (Day & Green, 1962) (Schayer, 1956). While these experiments are of themselves interesting, they are largely irrelevant to the question whether rat mast cells take up histamine.…”

“…After incubation, the cells were collected by centrifugation and washed three times with an ice-cold solution of NaCl, 0-9 %. The methods of extraction and paper chromatography have been described (Day & Green, 1962). Except where stated, histamine was measured by assay on the guineapig ileum and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on the heart of Venu8 mercenaria; in some experiments, chemical methods were used to measure histamine (Shore, Burkhalter & Cohn 1959) and 5-HT (Udenfriend, Weissbach & Clark, 1955).…”

“…Imipramine did not influence the amount of total radioactivity or of radioactive amines in the cells. (Day & Green, 1962), are able to concentrate the pre-formed amines. It is clear, from the following facts, that this uptake is not an artifact.…”

“…Uptake from body stores may help to explain also the observed differences in levels of 5-HT when these cells are grown in mice as compared with cells grown in culture. In fact when these experiments were in progress, during the period February to July, 1960, X-2 cells grown in the mouse showed much higher levels of 5-HT than when grown in culture (Day & Green, 1962), a difference that may be attributable to uptake of 5-HT in vivo.…”

“…BY MARGARET DAY* AND J. P. GREEN From the Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. (Received 23 March 1962) Neoplastic mast cells of the mouse that have been continuously in culture in this laboratory for the past 4 years have maintained their ability to synthesize heparin , histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (Day & Green, 1962). The levels of amines in the cells fluctuate with time, whether the cells are grown in culture or as ascitic tumours in the mouse, and the levels appeared to correlate with the capacity of the cells to take up and decarboxylate the precursor amino acids, histidine and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).…”