ABSTRACT
After the intraperitoneal injections of alloxan, carbon tetrachloride, cortisone acetate, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, morphine hydrochloride, toluidin blue, physiological saline solution, distilled water, and direct stimulation with electronic current, the peritoneal mast cells of the rat were observed in order to document and study the cytomorphic changes. Adult Sprague-Dawley strain albion rats were used. The substances tested were dissolved in physiological saline solution and injected into the abdominal cavity. Three to twenty four hours later the rats were sacrificed and the morphological changes of the peritoneal mast cells were observed by means of phase contrast microscopy and ordinary light microscopy. Cytomorphic effects of alloxan on the mast cells were comparatively marked and those effects of CC14, cortisone, ACTH, morphine-HCI, and physiological saline solution were slight and similar to each other. But the distructive effects of toluidin blue, distilled water, and electronic stimulation on the mast cells were severe and noticeable in this study. These results indicate that the intraperitmeal mast cells of rats show more sensitive reactions to a metabolic poisn alloxan, a low osmotic pressured-material distilled water, and a histamine liberator toluidin blue, and a physical stimulus electronic stimulation than the other similar chemical agents.