Chronic stress induced proliferation and activation of mast cells of gastric antrum in rats

To explore chronic heterotypic stressors induced proliferation and activation of mast cells in gastric antrum mucosa by ultrastructure alterations of mast cells, chronic unpredictable heterotypic stressors were used as a study model. The mean immunofluorescence magnitude of mast cell protease 1 (MCP-1) taken from chronic stress rats were 37.4±7.7, significantly higher (p<0.05) than the value of normal control group (24.8±5.6). Chronic unpredictable haterotypic stressors appeared also to induce ultrastructure alterations of mast cells. It indicated that mast cells were proliferated and activated, while mast cell granules were hyperplasiaed. Most granules had obvious intragranular changes with loss of electron-dense material. The morphologic evidence showed that macrophages and leukocytes infiltrated in chronic stress rats. Some granules of leukocytes adhered to the surface of mast cell, and formed a bridge. Macrophages phagocytized the mast cell granules.