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Updated: May 5, 2026

Measuring Local Anaphylaxis in Mice
Published on: October 14, 2014
Mast cells respond to urticating extract from lepidoptera larva Morpheis ehrenbergii in the rat
María Fernanda Galicia-Curiel1, J Luis Quintanar2, Mariela Jiménez1
1Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Av. Universidad 940, C.P. 20131 Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Abstract:
Mast cells and histamine participate in toxic effects of hairs from some caterpillars. This study reports that a crude extract of Morpheis ehrenbergii caterpillar hairs induces in vitro mast cells activation, triggers the release of histamine and causes a rapid urticarial reaction in the rat skin. Heating of the extract abolishes the inflammatory reaction. These results suggest that the use of antihistamines may improve the adverse skin reactions caused by the Mexican caterpillar M. ehrenbergii.
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