Establishment and characterization of a new canine mast cell tumor cell line

A new cell line (CoMS) was established from a 3-year-old male mongrel dog w ith mast cell tumor of the oral mucosa. coma. cells grow in suspension with a doubling time of 27.0 +/- 0.7 hr, The cytoplasmic granules were formalin -sensitive, showed diverse appearances in their ultrastructural findings an d contained heparin proteoglycan and neutral protease chymase. Calcium iono phore A23187, substance P and concanavalin A caused significant histamine r elease from CoMS cells, while compound 48/80 failed to release histamine. T his cell line will make an available source for studies on canine mast cell tumors.