Role of intra- and extracellular calcium in histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells

The present study provides evidence for a number of calcium pools important in histamine secretion from the mast cell. Firstly, calcium loosely bound to the cell membrane, and in rapid equilibrium with the extracellular environment, may be utilized for histamine release induced by most secretagogues. Secondly, all inducers are able to mobilize deeply buried or internal stores of calcium to initiate exocytosis. Finally, calcium bound to regulatory sites in the membrane may modulate the secretory process. Removal of calcium from the latter sites by brief treatment with chelating agents markedly enhances the secretory response in the absence of extracellular calcium, probably by facilitating the mobilization of bound stores of the ion. Saturation of these sites in the presence of excess calcium inhibits the release process and may restrict influx of the cation.