Opposite effects of mast cell degranulation by compound 48/80 on peritoneal inflammation in Swiss and CBA mice.

The murine strains differ in the number of peritoneal mast cells. Degranulation of peritoneal mast cells by single injection of compound 48/80 (1.2 mg/kg) followed by zymosan-induced (2 mg/ml, 0.5 ml/mouse) peritoneal inflammation caused either inhibition or enhancement of an early influx (at 4 h of peritonitis) of exudatory leukocytes in Swiss and CBA mice, respectively. These opposite effects correspond with statistically significant differences in the number of peritoneal mast cells in the intact Swiss (11 x 10(3)) and CBA (39 x 10(3)) mice.