Mast cells in the brain: evidence and functional significance

Silver, Rae; Silverman, Ann‐Judith; Vitkoviç, Ljubiša; Lederhendler, Israel

doi:10.1016/0166-2236(96)81863-7

Cited by 214 publications

(136 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…It is thus possible that gonadal steroids or other neuromodulators such as substance P may act on brain mast cells to modulate physiological responses underlying social behaviors. Mast cells secrete powerful vasodilators including substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and nitric oxide (reviewed in Silver et al, 1996). One can speculate that these serve to increase vasodilation of blood vessels in specific thalamic regions, thus increasing the flow of specific neuroendocrine factors into these regions.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Recent evidence indicates that bacterial recognition followed by endocytosis, processing and presentation of bacterial antigen, immune cell recruitment, and elimination of parasites number among these functions (McLachlan and Abraham, 2001;Vincent-Schneider, Thery, Mazzeo, Tenza, Raposo, and Bonnerot, 2001;Abraham and Malaviya, 2000; Fox, Jewel, and Whitacre, 1994). In addition, mast cells synthesize, store, and secrete a wide variety of bioactive molecules, including neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, prostaglandins, chemotactic factors, and (Galli, 2000;Metcalfe, Baram, and Mekori, 1997;Silver, Silverman, Vitkovic, and Lederhendler, 1996;Johnson and Krenger, 1992).Mast cells are normally present in the mammalian brain, both in the leptomeninges and within the parenchyma along the blood vessels of several dorsal thalamic nuclei (Dropp, 1972(Dropp, , 1976Theoharides, 1990;Goldschmidt, Hough, Glick, and Padawer, 1984). The number of brain mast cells is modulated by physiological and behavioral state.…”

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Stimuli from Conspecifics Influence Brain Mast Cell Population in Male Rats

Asarian

Yousefzadeh

Silverman

et al. 2002

Hormones and Behavior

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It is well established that mast cells occur within the brain of many species, and that the brain mast cell population is not static, but changes with the behavioral and physiological state of the animal.In this study, we tested whether exposure to conspecifics alters the number of brain mast cells in male rats, and then investigated the nature of stimuli influencing the changes observed in the number and localization of brain mast cells. Five days of cohabitation with an ovariectomized, estrogen-progesterone (OVX + EP)-treated female resulted in the largest number of thalamic mast cells, while pairing with such a female physically separated by a wire mesh or with a novel male produced a smaller, but significant increase over other pairings (OVX females for 5 days, OVX and OVX + EP females for 1 day, familiar or isolated males for 5 days). In all groups, mast cells were localized within specific dorsal thalamic nuclei, including the paraventricular nucleus, anterior nuclear group, or mediodorsal, ventroposterior, or medial geniculate nuclei. The results suggest that the behavioral and/or endocrine factors associated with cohabitation with conspecifics are sufficient to alter the number of brain mast cell-specific nuclei in the thalami of male rats and thus can provide targeted delivery of neuromodulators to specific regions of the brain that process information concerning the normal physiological state of the animal. Keywordsfemale; thalamus; mating; aggressive; endocrine; immune; stress Although mast cells are well known in their role as effectors of IgE-mediated allergic reactions, their physiological function(s) remains poorly understood (Wedemeyer, Tsai, and Galli, 2000; Forsberg, Pejler, Ringwall, Lunderius, Tomasini-Johansson, Kusche-Gullberg, Eriksson, Ledin, Hellman, and Kjellen, 1999;Echtenacher, Mannel, and Hultner, 1996;Malaviya, Ikeda, Ross, and Abraham, 1996). Recent evidence indicates that bacterial recognition followed by endocytosis, processing and presentation of bacterial antigen, immune cell recruitment, and elimination of parasites number among these functions (McLachlan and Abraham, 2001;Vincent-Schneider, Thery, Mazzeo, Tenza, Raposo, and Bonnerot, 2001;Abraham and Malaviya, 2000; Fox, Jewel, and Whitacre, 1994). In addition, mast cells synthesize, store, and secrete a wide variety of bioactive molecules, including neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, prostaglandins, chemotactic factors, and (Galli, 2000;Metcalfe, Baram, and Mekori, 1997;Silver, Silverman, Vitkovic, and Lederhendler, 1996;Johnson and Krenger, 1992).Mast cells are normally present in the mammalian brain, both in the leptomeninges and within the parenchyma along the blood vessels of several dorsal thalamic nuclei (Dropp, 1972(Dropp, , 1976Theoharides, 1990;Goldschmidt, Hough, Glick, and Padawer, 1984). The number of brain mast cells is modulated by physiological and behavioral state. Our demonstration that mature mast cells can migrate from the vasculature into the adult rat brain parenchyma provides a possible mechani...

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Stimuli from Conspecifics Influence Brain Mast Cell Population in Male Rats

Asarian

Yousefzadeh

Silverman

et al. 2002

Hormones and Behavior

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“…While it is known that some immune cells, such as microglia are resident in the brain for surveillance and clearance (4)(5)(6), the roles of other immune cells are underexplored. We focus here on mast cells, which are localized not only in the periphery but are also resident in the brain of all mammalian species studied (7)(8)(9).…”

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Brain mast cells link the immune system to anxiety-like behavior

Nautiyal

Ribeiro

Pfaff

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…M ast cells in the CNS are located on the brain side of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Mast cells can potentially mediate neurotransmission, neurite outgrowth, and neuronal survival in the brain (1,2). Mast cells are associated with various physiological and pathophysiological conditions, such as the estrus cycle, behavior, vascular headaches, and multiple sclerosis (MS) (3).…”

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