Comparison of the Effects of Compound 48/80, Protamine, and Turpentine Oil on Mast Cell Degranulation

Summary After intraperitoneal injection of protamine, 48/80 or turpentine oil in rats there was a degranulation of the mast cells both in the peritoneal fluid and in the mesentery.Counting of mast cells according to different stages of degranulation showed that there was a close relationship between the injected dose of 48/80 and the degree of degranulation.The ejected granules were partly phagocytized and these granules could be found up to 28 days in the phagocytes in the peritoneal fluid.The ejected granules showed a pink metachromasia and were swollen.After protamine injection the ejected granules could not be distinguished from similar granules found after the injection of a precipitate formed in vitro by protamine and heparin. The precipitate had no degranulating effect on the mast cells.Corresponding to the very slow disintegration of the metachromatic granules there were no changes in the blood coagulation time.The regeneration of the mast cells after a single dose of protamine or 48/80 was not completed until the period between 14 and 28 days after the injection. The regeneration after the injection of turpentine oil was delayed by an aseptic inflammatory reaction.