MICROPLATE ASSAY FOR MEASUREMENT OF HISTAMINE-RELEASE FROM MAST-CELLS

A microplate-format assay for measurement of histamine release by acti vated rat peritoneal mast cells, with accompanying microplate-format s pectrofluorometric assay of histamine, is demonstrated. Reproducibilit y, and linearity of the histamine assay are comparable to the historic al large format assay. Transfer of samples in the 96-well format, from histamine release through spectrofluorometric assay greatly expedites handling and provides for better independence of each replicate. A sa mple experiment is included to show a typical size experiment easily d one in this format.