Premium
Presence of mast cells in various oral mucosal sites in juvenile and adult rats
Author(s) -
Matsson Lars
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1993.tb01123.x
Subject(s) - staining , fixative , connective tissue , tongue , toluidine , pathology , buccal administration , tryptase , mast cell , oral mucosa , chemistry , biology , medicine , dentistry , immunology
The present investigation was designed to study the number of mast cells in various oral mucosal sites in juvenile and adult rats, with special reference to presence of subtypes of mast cells. Fifteen juvenile (1‐month‐old) and 15 adult (6‐month‐old) rats were used. Biopsies were taken from tongue, bucca, marginal gingiva (incisor area), and intestine (jejunum). For optimal preservation of the stainability of subtypes of mast cells, a fixative with low aldehyde concentration and low pH was used. The biopsies were embedded in paraffinwax. The first of three consecutive sections (5 μ) was stained in toluidine blue for 30 s, the second in toluidine blue for 7 days, and the third in astra blue/safranine. The total number of mast cells was represented by all cells positive to toluidine blue after 7 days' staining, or the sum of cells positive to astra blue and safranine. Cells positive to toluidine blue after 30 s were classified as connective tissue mast cells (CTMCs), and those positive after 7 days, but not after 30 s, as mucosal mast cells (MMCs). Cells positive to safranine in the astra blue/safranine staining sequence were classified as CTMCs, and those positive to astra blue as MMCs. Cells with intermediate staining characteristics in the astra blue/safranine staining sequence were recorded separately. The total number of mast cells in the tongue, buccal mucosa, and gingival mucosa was significantly higher in the juvenile than in the adult rats. In the buccal and gingival mucosa, more than twice as many mast cells were found in the young animals. In the intestine, however, the juvenile rats showed a significantly lower number of mast cells. In general, a higher number of cells with histochemical characteristics similar to the MMCs of the intestine was found in the oral sites of the juvenile animals. The differences in the total number of mast cells and the different composition of the mast cell population in the two age groups may indicate an age‐related difference in the potential for biologic reactions involving mast cells.