[The effect of chloroquine diphosphate upon tissue mast cells in rat's skin (author's transl)]

The number and morphological changes of the mast cells were studied in the skin of three groups white rats. The first group was treated subcutaneously with 5 mg/kg body weight chloroquine diphosphate for twenty days, the second group was treated with saline; the third group was not treated at all. An absolute increase of the number of mast cells in the animals treated with chloroquine diphosphate was established. It was assumed the increase of the mast cells is connected with the activation of the histidine-decarboxylase and the rise of the histamine level in the site of chloroquine diphosphate application.