Difference in, and influence of the purification medium on, sensitivity and maximum response of peritoneal and pleural mast cells stimulated by certain polyamines.

The actions of the polyamines compound 48/80, poly-l-lysine and polymyxin B on rat pleural and peritoneal mast cell secretion have been studied. Unpurified pleural mast cells released more histamine than peritoneal mast cells when stimulated by submaximal concentrations of compound 48/80 and poly-l-lysine, but the same profile of response was observed with polymyxin B in both populations. Dose-response studies of peritoneal and pleural mast cells purified with Percoll and Ficoll and stimulated by polymyxin B showed a decreased sensitivity and decreased maximum response of peritoneal cells when Percoll was used. The maximal response of pleural cells and the sensitivity of peritoneal cells were affected only slightly by Ficoll.