The isolation and some properties of guinea pig mesenteric mast cells

A technique is described for obtaining isolated mast cells from guinea-pig mesentery by an enzymatic digestion process using hyaluronidase and collagenase. One to 4 × 10⁶ mast cells were obtained from the mesentery of each animal. Isolated mast cells from guinea-pigs of about 400 g were approximately spherical with a mean diameter of 6.1 μm and a mean histamine content of 8.8 pg. Studies on isolated mast cells from sensitised animals showed that the cells were still capable of an anaphylactic release of histamine when challenged with the appropriate antigen. Isolated mast cells did not sensitise when incubated with antibody dissolved in physiological saline but sometimes became weakly sensitised when incubated with the same antibody in isotonic-buffered glucose. Mast cells were found to survive in culture but they were no longer capable of an antigen-induced histamine release.