Abstract
Mental or emotional stress has been shown to cause mast cell degranulation in several different tissues. Several lines of experimental evidence indicate that stress, working through the sympathetic nervous system, or the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, stimulates peripheral nerves to release neuropeptides that bind to receptors on the mast cells, causing them to degranulate. In order to investigate the effects of stress on mast cell degranulation, it is necessary to first establish a reproducible animal model of stress (in this case, rat) and also to ensure that the control animals do not show any signs of stress. This procedure requires a great deal of care and attention because the methods used by many institutions to house laboratory rodents, do in fact cause them stress. This topic is addressed in this chapter. In addition, two histological techniques are described to visualize connective tissue and mucosal mast cells and to assess their degree of degranulation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Spanos, C., Pang, X., Ligris, K., et al. (1997) Stress-induced bladder mast cell activation: implications for interstitial cystitis. J. Urol. 157, 669–672.
Kimata, H. (2003) Enhancement of allergic skin wheal responses in patients with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome by playing video games or by a frequently ringing mobile phone. Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 33, 513–517.
Singh, L. K., Pang, X., Alexacos, N., Letourneau, R., and Theoharides, C. (1999) Acute immobilization stress triggers skin mast cell degranulation via corticotrophin releasing hormone, neurotensin, and substance P: a link to neurogenic skin disorders. Brain Behav. Immun. 13, 225–239.
Theoharides, T. C., Singh, L. K., Boucher, W., et al. (1998) Corticotropin-releasing hormone induces skin mast cell degranulation and increased vascular permeability, a possible explanation for its proinflammatory effects. Endocrinology 139, 403–413.
Theoharides, T. C., Spanos, C. P., Pang, X., et al. (1995) Stress-induced intracranial mast cell degranulation. A corticotrophin releasing hormone-mediated effect. Endocrinology 136, 5745–5750.
Castagliuolo, I., LaMont, J. T., Qiu, B., et al. (1996) Acute stress causes mucin release from rat colon: role of corticotrophin releasing factor and mast cells. Am. J. Physiol. 271, 884–892.
Soderholm, J. D., Yang, P. C., Ceponis, P., et al. (2002) Chronic stress induces mast cell-dependent bacterial adherence and initiates mucosal inflammation in rat intestine. Gastroenterology 123, 1099–1108.
Skofitsch, G., Savitt, J. M., and Jacobowitz, D. M. (1985) Suggestive evidence for a functional unit between mast cells and substance P fibres in the rat diaphragm and mesentery. Histochemistry 82, 5–8.
Fewtrell, C. M. S., Foreman, J. C., Jordan, C. C., Oehme, P., Renner, H., and Stewart, J. M. (1982) The effects of substance P on histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine release in the rat. J. Physiol. 330, 393–411.
Alexacos, N., Pang, X., Boucher, W. Cochrane, D. E., Sant, G. R., and Theoharides, T. C. (1999) Neurotensin mediates rat bladder mast cell degranulation triggered by acute psychological stress. Urology 53, 1035–1040.
Imaki, T., Xiao-Quan, W., Shibasaki, T., et al. (1995) Stress-induced activation of neuronal activity and corticotrophin-releasing factor gene expression in the paraventricular nucleus is modulated by glucocorticoids in rats. J. Clin. Invest. 96, 231–238.
Playfair, J. H. L. (1996) Immunology at a Glance, Sixth edition. Blackwell Science, London, UK.
Riley, V. (1981) Psychoneuroendocrine influences on immunocompetence and neoplasia. Science 212, 1100–1109.
Milici, A. J. and Bankston, P. W. (1982) Fetal and neonatal rat intestinal capillaries: permeability to carbon, ferritin, hemoglobin and myoglobin. Am. J. Anat. 165, 165–186.
Mayrhofer, G. (1980) Fixation and staining of granules in mucosal mast cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes in the rat jejunum, with special reference to the relationship between the acid glycosaminoglycans in the two cell types. Histochem. J. 12, 513–526.
Baldwin, A. L. and Wilson, L. M. (1999) Effects of noise on mesenteric permeability in the rat. FASEB J. 13,1.3, A1.
Baldwin, A. L. (2000) Effect of noise on the intestinal exchange barrier. FASEB J. 14,315, A22.
Conroy, J. D. and Toledo, A. B. (1976) Metachromasia and improved histologic detail with toluidine blue-hematoxylin and eosin. Veterinary Pathol. 13, 78–80.
19. Katz, H. R., Stevens, R. L., and Austen, K. F. (1985) Heterogeneity of mammalian mast cells differentiated in vivo and in vitro. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 76, 250–259.
Acknowledgments
This work was funded by NIH grant R21 AT 1124.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Baldwin, A.L. (2006). Mast Cell Activation by Stress. In: Krishnaswamy, G., Chi, D.S. (eds) Mast Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 315. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-967-2:349
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-967-2:349
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-374-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-967-7
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols