Cation-induced histamine release from a synthetic weak (carboxylic) cation exchanger resin (IRC-50) and from isolated mast cell granules show identical kinetics.

Comparative studies between synthetic weak cation exchanger resins and rat mast cell granules have shown that the cation-induced release of histamine from both materials follows the kinetics characteristic of cation exchange. Since also cation-induced release of amines from chromaffin granules in vitro and chromaffin cells in vivo, as also nerve granules of peripheral and central neurons, run according to cation exchange kinetics, cation exchange might be a general principle in the storage and release of biogenic amines.