Characterization of mast cells in the wall of the cerebral arterial systems in the rat and the baboon

Abstract

Rat brain perivascular mast cells have been characterized histochemically and ultrastructurally in other studies (Dimitriadou, 1990). In our earlier studies in the vervet monkey circulus arteriosus, cells resembling mast cells were seen within the tunica adventitia. In our current studies on whole mount preparations of arterial vessels, branching from the circulus arteriosus in both the rat and the baboon, labeling experiments with mast cell tryptase and confocal immunofluorescent microscopy show that mast cells do exist in the wall of the vessels in the two animal species. Fluorescent immunohistochemistry studies of the arterial vessels using serotonin antibody have shown that the mast cells contain serotonin in their granules. Colocalization of mast cell tryptase and serotonin confirmed that these are in the same cell. Colocalization of mast cell tryptase and tryptophan hydroxylase confirmed that serotonin synthesis occurred in the same cell. Other studies will attempt to determine the density of the mast cells in the wall of the vessels.Grant Funding Source: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology OSU Center for Health Sciences