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Preparation of Mouse Brain Tissue for Immunoelectron Microscopy
Published on: July 20, 2010
Subcellular localization of brain mast cell histamine in developing rat
1Departamento de Bioquimica, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
Neurochemistry International
|May 27, 2010
Summary
Histamine in rat brains is primarily stored in mast cells, not neurons. Treatments releasing histamine depleted both mast cells and brain histamine, confirming their close association.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Histamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain, but its cellular localization is not fully understood.
- Mast cells are known to contain histamine and are present in the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular localization of histamine in the developing and adult rat brain.
- To determine the contribution of mast cells to brain histamine levels.
Main Methods:
- Intracerebroventricular administration of histamine-releasing agents (compound 48/80, polymixin B) to rats.
- Measurement of histamine levels in crude nuclear fractions and subcellular fractions.
- Histologic examination of brain tissue and mast cell counts.
Main Results:
- Histamine-releasing agents decreased histamine and mast cell numbers in the crude nuclear fraction.
- Neuronal histamine levels were unaffected by the treatments.
- A strong correlation was observed between mast cell numbers and histamine in the crude nuclear fraction.
- Mast cells accounted for approximately 22% of adult rat brain histamine.
Conclusions:
- Most histamine in the crude nuclear fraction of the rat brain is located within mast cells.
- Measuring histamine in the crude nuclear fraction and supernatant can identify altered cellular histamine pools.
