Somatostatin-induced histamine release in mast cell incubates from thymusaplastic nude rats

Both cyclic and linear somatostatin-14 are potent histamine secretagogues in rat mast cell incubates. Linear somatostatin-14 is more effective than cyclic somatostatin-14 in a concentration range up to 10(-6) mol/l, in normal Sprague-Dawley rats, and even more responsive in sensitized hooded Lister rats. This additional mast cell stimulation capacity of linear somatostatin-14 depends on circulating IgE levels. No differences are observed in athymic rat mast cell incubates between the linear and the cyclic isomer of somatostatin-14. A direct unspecific interaction of linear somatostatin with cell surface antibodies can be concluded.