IgE-mediated histamine and SRS-A release from respiratory cells and peripheral blood leukocytes of rhesus monkeys.

Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and free respiratory cells (RC) of the mast cell-basophil type were obtained from normal rhesus monkeys or rhesus monkeys with defined immediate-type hypersensitivity to ascaris antigen (AA). PBL or RC from the latter were exposed to AA and the former were exposed to anti-IgE. Histamine (H) release and release of a slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) occurred following exposure of the appropriate cells to AA or anti-IgE. The release of both H and SRS-A from PBL was potentiated by D2O. D2O did not potentiate release of SRS-A or H from RC due to anti-IgE to the same extent. Although potentiation of H release from RC due to AA was observed in the presence of D2O in some individual animals, this could not be demonstrated by statistical analysis of group results. We could not demonstrate potentiation of SRS-A release from RC due to anti-IgE or AA. The results suggest the possibility that there may be differences in antigen reactive cells of the respiratory tree and peripheral blood and biochemical studies may be of use in demonstrating these differences.