MAST-CELLS IN ACCESSORY-GLANDS OF EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED PROSTATITIS IN MALE WISTAR RATS

We studied the histological modifications in the accessory glands of a utoimmune rats. Adult male Wistar rats were id immunized three times w ith saline extract of rat male accessory glands (RAG) chemically modif ied (MRAG) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) (groups 1, 2, and 3). P rior to the first immunization with MRAG-CFA groups 2 and 3 received p eritoneal cells obtained from rats that had been injected 2 or 24 hr p reviously with low doses of RAG. Furthermore, an additional group (gro up 4) ip immunized with liposome-associated-RAG was incorporated. The delayed-type hypersensitivity response studied 10 or 15 days after fir st immunization was positive for rats of groups 1, 3, and 4, while it was negative for rats of group 2. Serum samples obtained on Day 45 and studied by ELISA showed high levels of autoantibodies in groups 1 and 2 and lower levels of autoantibodies in group 3, but did not show aut oantibodies in group 4. The histological studies performed 10 days aft er the last immunization showed organ-specific lesions in the accessor y glands in animals of groups 1, 3, and 4. Infiltration of mononuclear cells was the main alteration in group 1, while infiltration of mast cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were present in specimens of gr oups 3 and 4. The main finding of this study was a significant increas e (P < 0.0005) in the extent of mast cell degranulation in the specime ns of accessory glands stained with toluidine blue. Our results sugges t that mast cells are activated in our experimental model of autoimmun e disease. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.