In vitro screening method for the evaluation of histamine release from rat peritoneal cells

Rat peritoneal mast cells offer a convenient approach for the evaluation of histamine release by chemicals. Peritoneal mast cells obtained by centrifugation on density gradients are routinely used for the assessment of histamine release. Manipulation of the cells during this purification step may lead to cell membrane damage and spontaneous release of histamine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate two procedures of peritoneal cell purification. Rat peritoneal cells were purified (i) by three centrifugations in PIPES only (PIPES purification) or (ii) by three centrifugations in PIPES followed by density gradient centrifugation in Percoll (PIPES/Percoll purification). The effect of a reference compound 48/80 was evaluated at two or three concentrations (0.1, 1 and 10 μg/ml) under several experimental conditions