[Morphometric analysis of a mast cell population]

A composite morphometric approach to the analysis of mast cell population is proposed including 4 criteria: the cytogram, the index of heparin saturation, degranulation index, a relative rate of degranulation form. The sensitivity and informative capacity of the composite morphometric analysis were tested in two experimental models: inoculation of heparin and inoculation of its antagonists. Subtle differences in the effect of mast cell degranulaton were found after inoculation of protamine sulphate and a synthetic polycation, 2.5-ionen. Important information on the consumption of exogenous heparin by mast cells was obtained. The simplicity of the analysis as well as the possibility of using its simplified version make the method available for both clinical and experimental pathology.