The effect of adrenocorticotropin on histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion from rat mast cells.

Characteristics of histamine (Hi) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release from rat peritoneal mast cells in response to the polypeptide adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) were studied. During a 15 min incubation at 37 degrees C, ACTH evoked Hi as well as 5-HT release from rat mast cells at concentrations of 1 X 10(-4) M-1 X 10(-3) M. The release was dose-dependent and very rapid. After 15 sec the amount of the amines released was the same as after 4.5 min. In most experiments, the percentage of Hi release was slightly but significantly higher than the percentage of 5-HT release. Hi and 5-HT release induced by ACTH also took place in a calcium-free medium. However, the release of the amines was decreased when calcium was omitted. Comparison of the effects of ACTH, compound 48/80 and substance P on mast cell secretion showed that ACTH is about 100 times less active then substance P which was in turn about 100 times less active than compound 48/80. When both ACTH and compound 48/80 were used together as liberators , the release was significantly higher than with either liberator alone. Our results indicate that there are receptor sites for the endogenous polypeptide ACTH on the mast cell membrane which mediate Hi and 5-HT release. This release was found to resemble that evoked by the basic secretogogue compound 48/80 but in some aspects to be different from that evoked by substance P.