Am. Frenz et al., DOES THE MAST-CELL HAVE AN INTRINSIC ROLE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS, Agents and actions, 41, 1994, pp. 30000014-30000015
In order to examine the role of mast cells in the inflammatory bladder
disease interstitial cystitis, mast cells isolated from the human bla
dder of normal and diseased tissue were challenged with a range of sec
retagogues. Calcium ionophore A23187 and anti-IgE caused histamine rel
ease from all bladder mast cells in a dose-related manner. Mast cells
from the diseased tissue were far more responsive than those from the
normal tissue. Mast cells from the muscle of normal bladder were respo
nsive towards substance P and compound 48/80. However, mast cells from
interstitial cystitis bladder did not release significant amounts of
histamine with these two secretagogues.