Histamine and Mast Cells.l: Studies on Living Connective Tissue in the Hamster Cheek Pouch

Summary. The reaction of the mast cells to histamine, the chemical histamine‐liberators compound 48/80 and stilbamidine, peptone and water was studied in living connective tissue of the hamster cheek pouch. Degradation of the cells was invariably observed and occasionally irreversible disruption. The degranulation is interpreted as a response to increased tissue fluid, which in turn may be due to increased capillary permeability. The mucopoly‐saccharide‐containing granular substance of the mast cells may bind extracellular water and thus maintain the gel structure of the connective‐tissue ground substance. This view unites the results of previous experiments on the relation of the mast cells to histamine as well as to tissue mucopolysaccharides.