Summary
An investigation is reported on the properties and quantitative distribution of mast cells in normal and sectioned peripheral nerve. A considerable number of mast cells has been found in the epineurial connective tissue in normal rats, as well as scattered mast cells in the endoneurium. After nerve section there was an about five-fold increase in the number of endoneurial mast cells throughout the distal part of the sciatic nerve.
The mast cell granules in normal and sectioned nerve showed the same histochemical properties as mast cell granules in other tissues, i.e. strong toluidine blue metachromasia resistant to alcohol dehydration, and persistence of dye binding and metachromasia at pH below 1. Furthermore, the metachromasia is unaffected by extraction with chloroform and methanol prior to staining. The metachromatic component of the mast cell granules can be differentiated by these properties from other metachromatic structures in normal and sectioned nerve. The significance of the findings is discussed, in particular the possible relation of endoneurial mast cells to the degradation of myelin.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, C. W. M.: Osmium tetroxide and the Marchi method: Reactions with polar and nonpolar lipids, protein and polysaccharide. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 8, 262–267 (1960).
Bloom, G., and J. W. Kelly: The copper phtalocyanine dye “Astrablau” and its staining properties, especially the staining of mast cells. Histochemie 2, 48–57 (1960).
— and N. R. Ringertz: Acid polysaccharides of peritoneal mast cells of the rat and mouse. Ark. Kemi (Stockh.) 16, 51–56 (1960).
Enerbäck, L.: To be published in 1965.
-Enerbäck, L., Y. Olsson, and P. Sourander: Mast cell changes following nerve sectioning Proc. XIV Congr. Path. Microbiol. Oslo Universitetsforlaget 1964, p. 35–36.
Feyrter, F.: Über ein sehr einfaches Verfahren der Markscheidenfärbung, zugleich eine neue Art der Färberei. Virchows Arch. path. Anat. 296, 645–654 (1936).
Gamble, H. J.: Comparative electron-microscopic observations on the connective tissues of a peripheral nerve and a spinal nerve root in the rat. J. Anat. 98, 17–25 (1964).
— and S. Goldby: Mast cells in peripheral nerve trunks. Nature (Lond.) 189, 766–767 (1961).
Greenfield's Neuropathology, 2nd ed., ed. by W. Blackwood, W. H. McMenemey, A. Meyer, R. M. Norman and D. S. Russel. London: Edward Arnold Ltd. 1963.
Hagberg, B., P. Sourander, and L. Thorén: Peripheral nerve changes in the diagnosis of metachromatic leucodystrophy. Acta paediat. (Stockh.), Suppl. 135, 63–71 (1962).
Holmgren, H., and B. Rexed: Metachromatic staining of the Schwann cells in nerve regeneration. Acta anat. (Basel) 2, 287–293 (1946).
— and O. Wilander: Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Chemie und Funktion der Ehrlichen Mastzellen. Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 42, 242–278 (1937).
Jorpes, J. E., H. Holmgren, and O. Wilander: Über das Vorkommen von Heparin in den Gefäßwänden und in den Augen. Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 42, 279–300 (1937).
Kates, M.: Lipolytic enzymes. In: K. Block (ed.), Lipide metabolism, p. 165–238. New York and London: John Wiley & Sons Inc. 1960.
Kelly, J. D.: The metachromatic reaction. In: Protoplasmatologia vol. 2, p. 1–98. Wien: Springer 1956.
Kelsall, M. A., and E. D. Crabb: Lymphocytes and mast cells. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Co. 1959.
Key, A., u. G. Retzius: Studien in der Anatomie des Nervensystemes. Arch. mikr. Anat. 9, 308–386 (1873).
Klüver, H., and E. Barrera: A method for the combined staining of cells and fibers in the nervous system. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol. 12, 400–403 (1953).
Krücke, W.: Die mucoide Degeneration der peripheren Nerven. Virchows Arch. path. Anat. 304, 442–463 (1939).
Manell, W. A.: Wallerian degeneration in the rat. A chemical study. Canad. J. med. Sci. 30, 173–179 (1952).
Michels, N. A.: The mast cells. Reprint in Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 103 (1963) from Downey's Handbook of Hematology 1, 232–372 (1938).
Noback, C. R.: Protagon (π) granules of Reich. J. comp. Neurol. 99, 91–101 (1953).
— Metachromasia in the nervous system. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol. 13, 161–166 (1954).
Padawer, J.: Studies on mammalian mast cells. Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 19, 690–713 (1957).
— Quantitative studies with mast cells. Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 103, 87–137 (1963).
Palmgren, A.: A rapid method for selective silver staining of nerve fibres and nerve endings in mounted paraffin sections. Acta zool. 29, 377–392 (1948).
Ramon y Cajal, S.: Degeneration and regeneration of the nervous system. New York: Hafner Publ. Co. 1928.
Riech, F. (1903, 1907): Quoted by Noback 1953.
Riley, J.: The relationship of the tissue mast cells to the blood vessels in the rat. J. Path. Bact. 65, 461–469 (1953).
— The mast cells. Edinburg and London: E. & S. Livingstone Ltd. 1959.
Robinson, D. S., and J. E. French: Heparin, the clearing factor lipase, and fat transport. Pharmacol. Rev. 12, 241–263 (1960).
Rosenheim, T.: Ueber das Vorkommen und die Bedeutung der Mastzellen im Nervensystem des Menschen. Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 17, 820–829 (1886).
Rossiter, R. J.: The chemistry of wallerian degeneration. In: Chemical pathology of the nervous system, edit. by J. Folch-Pi, p. 207–227. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1961.
Schiller, S., and A. Dorfman: The isolation of heparin from mast cells of the normal rat. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 31, 278–280 (1959).
Schnabel, R., und G. Sir: Histochemische Untersuchungen über die π-Granula (Reich) der peripheren markhaltigen Nervenfasern. Z. Zellforsch. 56, 1–19 (1962).
Schubert, M., and D. Hammerman: Metachromasia, chemical theory and histochemical use. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 4, 159–180 (1956).
Torp, A.: Histamine and mast cells in nerves. Med. exp. (Basel) 4, 180–182 (1961).
Vogel, W. C., and L. Zieve: Post-heparin phospholipase. J. Lipid Res. 5, 177–183 (1964).
Wislocki, G. B., and M. Singer: The basophilic and metachromatic staining of myelin sheaths and its possible association with a sulfatide. J. comp. Neurol. 92, 71–91 (1950).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Acknowledgements. The authors are indebted to Miss Kristina Müntzing for skilful technical assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Enerbäck, L., Olsson, Y. & Sourander, P. Mast cells in normal and sectioned peripheral nerve. Z.Zellforsch 66, 596–608 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00368249
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00368249