Abstract
Paraffin sections of the liver of the dog in various ages were stained by aldehydefuchsin plus GOLDNER's trichrome stain in order to investigate the distribution of mast cells.The mast cells of the liver are concentrated along the branches of hepatic veins which are provided with periodically arranged constrictor muscles. Flattened mast cells adhere to the endothelial lining of the vessels. The relation of endothelial and mast cell layers is so close that sometimes it is impossible to distinguish one from the other. The lining up of mast cells in the hepatic vein branches seems to be accomplished within one month after birth, during which time the vessels come to be provided with the constrictor muscles. The interlobular veins, branches of the portal vein, are completely lacking in such juxta-endothelial mast cells.The specific distribution of mast cells presented in this work seems to explain the mechanism of the well-known symptoms of the dog in anaphylactic and peptone shock. The mast cells in the hepatic vein branches are believed to react promptly to the shock substances administered by releasing histamine which must cause, on one hand, the spasm of the constrictor muscles and the following blood congestion in the same vessels and, on the other hand, elevation of the endothelial permeability which facilitates the escape of a liquid component of the blood into the accompanying lymphatics connected to the thoracic duct.
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