Detection of rat basophilic leukemia by cyclic voltammetry for monitoring allergic reaction.

Electrochemical detection of the rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells has been carried out by applying cyclic voltammetry. The detection system consists of a basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrode and a porous nitrocellulose membrane filter to trap RBL-1 cells. When the potential of the graphite electrode was run in the range of 0-1.0 V vs SCE, RBL-1 cells gave peak currents at 0.34 V vs SCE as well as 0.65 V vs SCE. There is a linear relationship between the peak current at 0.34 V vs SCE and the cell numbers of RBL-1. In the range of (0.4-2.0) X 10(5) cells. The peak current of RBL-1 cells was attributed to serotonin. When dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) as a model allergen was added to RBL-1 cells sensitized with anti-DNP IgE, the peak current decreased because of the degranulation of RBL-1 cells leading to serotonin release. On the other hand, RBL-1 cells sensitized with anti-DNP IgE did not respond to egg white, pollens, house dust, and milk.