Adrenal mast cells modulate vascular and secretory responses in the intact adrenal gland of the rat.

Mast cells were identified in the rat adrenal gland, located in the walls of arterioles at the point at which they penetrate the connective tissue capsule. The mast cell products, histamine and serotonin, both caused dose-dependent increases in rates of perfusion medium flow and steroid secretion in the isolated, perfused rat adrenal gland in situ. Compound 48-80, a mast cell degranulator, caused a significant increase in perfusion medium flow rate and steroid secretion by the in-situ perfused rat adrenal. Administration of disodium cromoglycate, a mast cell stabilizer, before administration of ACTH(1-24) virtually abolished the normal flow rate increment and significantly attenuated the corticosterone secretory response to ACTH(1-24). These observations strongly suggest that adrenal mast cells modulate both vascular and secretory responses in the intact adrenal gland of the rat.