Abstract

All mast cells have large, electron-dense cytoplasmic granules made up of heparin (or related glycosaminoglycans) and protein. Mast cells vary in their morphology, histochemistry, sensitivity to fixatives and pharmacological properties. This heterogeneity has been studied in detail in the rat, and two major sub-populations have been defined in this species. Connective tissue mast cells (CTMC) are found in skin, muscle and the peritoneal cavity, and mucosal mast cells (MMC) predominate in the mucosa of the gut (Enerbak 1981). The discovery of distinct proteases in rat mast cells has allowed clear differentiation between the two major subsets. Rat mast cell protease 1 (RMCPI) is present in CTMC; rat mast cell protease 2 (RMCPII) is found in MMC (Woodbury et al. 1978).

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