[Basic proteins in the granules of mast cells. Demonstration of masked proteins, acidophilic staining of the granules].

Basic proteins of the granules of mast cells in nativ, formalin-, alcohol- and aceton fixed preparations without any preliminary treatment, when stained with acidic dye at the pH 9 cytochemically seem to be masked. After various preliminary treatment (treatment with acid, with cetylpiridinumchlorid, CPC) mast-cell granula stained with acidic-dye at pH 9 appear intensively acidophile. This phenomenon can be explained by the presence of basic proteins in the mast cell granula. Preliminary treatment with CPC inhibits acid radicals of the heparin. This may lead to the disintegration of the linkage between proteins of the heparin, thus amino-group of the basic proteins become reactivated and can be identified by acidic dyes. It can not be excluded as well, that CPC linked to the heparin with free positive radicals reveals acidic-dye-binding capacity. In cases of preliminary treatment with various acids this mechanism does not seem possible to lay on the base of changing of the dye binding capacity.