Regeneration of Rat Mast Cells after Histamine Secretion: Changes in Histidine Decarboxylase Activity and Heparin Synthesis

Histidine decarboxylase activity in rat peritoneal mast cells is depressed temporarily after histamine secretion induced by antigen in sensitized cells or by compound 48/80. Recovery starts after 10 min. and the enzyme activity is completely restored in about 1-2 hours. There is no stimulation of the enzyme activity upto 4 hours after the exposure to the releaser. The enzyme activity shows more prolonged depression after histamine release induced by inonophore A23187 probably because of leakage of the cytoplasmic enzyme. Inspite of the loss of some granules from the mast cells, histamine uptake is enhanced during the first two hours apparently due to the uptake into the granule matrices in the compound exocytotic vacuoles. These granules remain within the cell, but the release of endogenous histamine to the extracellular fluid during secretion makes the binding sites available for histamine uptake. There is no indication of increased histamine production during the period of observation, viz. up to 6 hours after the secretion. The heparin content is reduced during the first two hours due to the loss of granules from the cells, but this is restored during 4-6 hours by increasing synthetic activity. Heparin synthesis is reduced to about 40% of the normal value during the first 4 hours, and is practically restored to normal during 4-6 hours.