Long term increase of mucosal mast cells in the rat induced by administration of compound 48/80

Administration of Compound 48/80 to rats for 5 days resulted in an increase of the specific type of mucosal mast cell, while connective tissue mast cells elsewhere were almost completely degranulated. The number of mucosal mast cells increased slowly for another 5 days and then returned to the control level, in an exponential manner. The half life of the newly formed mast cells was calculated to be about 40 days. This value may be taken as an estimate of the half life of mucosal mast cells. These cells, therefore, constitute a fraction of mast cells with rapid turnover. Available evidence indicates that the classical connective tissue mast cell has a very long life span, without significant turnover in terms of cell death and cell renewal. We suggest that the increase of mucosal mast cells is an indirect effect of Compound 48/80, related to its effect on other mast cells and mediated by material(s) released from these cells during the secretory process.