Mucosal mast cells as a component of the inflammatory response to lower-urinary tract infection.

Globule cells have been observed in mucosae for many years. Recently, a subpopulation of these globule cells in the intestinal mucosa of man and rodents have been identified as unique mast cells. In this communication, intraepithelial globule cells and some lamina-propria mast cells found in the normal rat urinary-bladder wall have been characterized as mucosal mast cells, similar to intestinal mast cells, and differentiated morphologically and histochemically from rat peritoneal mast cells. The number of mast cells in the bladder wall increased significantly during various bladder manipulations, including mechanical trauma, parasitic infestation and bacterial infection. The origin and function of the mucosal mast cells remains unknown.