Some characteristics of histamine secretion from mast cells treated with ionomycin

The ionophorous antibiotic ionomycin released histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells in both the presence and absence of added calcium ions. The response under the latter conditions was potentiated by brief pretreatment of the cells with chelating agents. The interaction between the ionophore and exogenous calcium was complex. Supramaximal concentrations of calcium potentiated the release induced by low levels of ionomycin but markedly inhibited the secretion evoked by larger amounts of the compound. Dispersed mesenteric mast cells of the rat and guinea pig also responded to ionomycin but were less reactive than the peritoneal cells.