Observations on the origin of the mast leucocytes of the adult rabbit

Abstract

The investigations of Maximow have shown that in mammals the connective tissue mast cells are very different from the mast cells of the blood. Maximow and Weidenreich believe that the only feature which the two types of cells have in common ii the presence of basophilic granules in the cytoplasm, which stain metachromatically with basic aniline dyes. The two types of cells, however, represent independent lines of leucocyte differentiation and development, with their own peculiar nuclei and granules.Maximow ('06) found histogenous mast cells in all the mammals he investigated, even in the rabbit where most investigators have failed. He calls attention to the fact, that where there are relatively few histogenous mast cells, the deficiency is made up by increased numbers of haematogenous mast cells, and vice versa. That such a close compensatory relationship exists between the two types of cells is shown very well in the adult rabbit, there being comparatively few histogenous mast cells, but numerous mast leucocytes.Within the past few years the origin of the haematogenous mast leucocyte has been the subject of considerable haematological investigation. The earlier investigators, including Ehrlich, assumed that mast leucocytes were represented in the bonemarrow by certain characteristic myelocytes and evolved like the other granular cells. Weidenreich, however, has recently shown that this is not the case with the human mast leucocyte. He believes that human mast leucocytes are formed from de- 233

The mast cells

“…The results of Downey's research on the guinea pig led him to declare with like conviction (p. 137) that, providing an adequate histological technique is used, 'the mast leucocytes of the animal are so definite and characteristic that they can be identified from the moment of their first appearance in the bone marrow'. Finally, Downey's pupil, Ringoen (1919Ringoen ( , 1923, using a fixative actually introduced by one of Pappenheim's own students, St. Szecsi (1913), corroborated the myeloid origin of the mast leucocytes in both rabbit and guinea pig, the accumulated evidence of the period being critically evaluated by Maximow (1924).…”

“…This misconception persisted until Maximow (1913) and Ringoen (1919) conclusively re-established Ehrlich's views and again stressed the extreme water-solubility of the mast granules in certain species (Kanthack and Hardy, 1894). Not all mast granules are so readily soluble; the mast granules of the rat are surprisingly resistant to water (Paff and Mergenthaler, 1955).…”

The Influence of Hormones on the Basophilic Leukocytes

“…While Riley (3), the Scandinavian school (4,5) and other investigators (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) have clarified "the riddle of the mast cells" (3) to some extent by the demonstration of its role as the carrier of histamine, heparin, and serotonin, the amount of information about the blood basophil is meager (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Only recently has evidence been presented which would seem to indicate that the two cells in their histochcmical composition have perhaps more in common than had been assumed earlier (20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”