Decreased production of mast cells in S1/S1d anemic mice

Abstract

Abstract Production of tissue mast cells was evaluated in genetically anemic mice of S1/S1dgenotype. In the skin of adult S1/S1d mice the numbers of mast cells per centimeter were less than 1 % of the numbers observed in congenic + /+ mice, as reported for adult W/Wv mice. Any mast cells were scarcely detected in other tissues in both S1/S1d and W/Wv mice. Since bone marrow cell transplantation from S1/S1d mice increases the numbers of mast cells in the skin, stomach, and mesentery of W/Wv mice, the bone marrow of S1/S1d mice would seem to contain precursors of mast cells. These precursor cells may arrive at peripheral tissues, as is suggested by the observation that the numbers of mast cells increase in the skin of W/Wv mice grafted to S1/S1drecipients. The lack of mast cells in the S1/S1d mice seems to be due to a tissue defect that locally induces the differentiation of mast cells, as is indicated by the observation that bone marrow transplantation from + /+ donors does not increase the numbers of mast cells in the skin, stomach, and mesentery of S1/S1d mice and the observation that mast cells do not develop in skin of S1/S1d mice grafted to + /+ recipients.