Anaphylaxis in mast cell-deficient mice.

Evidence of a functional deficit in mast cell-deficient mice was sought by testing for the development of systemic anaphylaxis. W/Wv mast cell-deficient mice and wild type control animals were sensitized by injection of bovine serum albumin and subsequently challenged. Nine of ten W/Wv mast cell-deficient mice and 10/10 control mice demonstrated signs of anaphylaxis, including death. Although histamine levels were higher in control animals, no differences were noted before and after antigen challenge. The numbers of peripheral blood basophils were the same in W/Wv and wild type mice. These studies suggest that caution is necessary in the use of these animals to study disease.

Eosinophilia in murine trichinellosis.

In both primary and secondary infections using 3 different strains of mice (DBA/1, B10 X D2, and C3H/HeJ), 2 peaks of peripheral blood eosinophilia were noted. Depending upon the strain, the first of the biphasic peaks in primary infections occurred between days 5 and 9, and the second peak occurred between days 16 and 22. The relative heights of the peak varied with the strain. In secondary infections, the initial peak was lower and the larger second peak occurred earlier. Methyridine treatment to eliminate adults prior to release of newborn larvae altered neither the course of eosinophilia in primary infection nor the biphasic distribution of eosinophilia. These studies demonstrate that the adult worm is responsible for inducing eosinophilia in murine infections, that 2 peaks of eosinophilia exist in primary and secondary infections, and that eosinophilia in secondary infections is an anamnestic response.