Some studies on the release of histamine from mast cells treated with d-tubocurarine.

d-Tubocurarine (dTc) released histamine in non-cytotoxic fashion from peritoneal mast cells of the rat, mouse and hamster. The response was similar to that evoked by other cationic liberators such as compound 48/80 and polylysine in that it was extremely rapid and enhanced by calcium-deprivation at suboptimal concentrations of secretagogue. Tissue mast cells obtained by enzymic dissociation of the heart, lung and mesentery of the rat and guinea pig were unreactive or hyporesponsive to the effect of dTc. The compound liberated only very small amounts of histamine from isolated preparations of perfused guinea pig heart but significantly increased the rate and contractility of the heart. These results are discussed in terms of the general functional heterogeneity of mast cells from different locations.