[The morphological bases for the cholinoreactivity of the mast cells of the respiratory organs].

Using specific M-cholinoblockers the response of rat pulmonary and mediastinal pleural mast cells to acetylcholine was studied. Acetylcholine was established to cause their massive degranulation which is prevented by preliminary administration of atropin or bromide ipratropium. Electric current stimulation of the vagal nerve caused similar reaction in mast cells. The transection of vagal nerve inferior to ganglion nodosum augmented the synthesis of specific granules in mast cells, although blocked their cytosis. Acetyl cholinestherase reaction demonstrated axons in pleura, while electron microscopic studies revealed terminals containing cholinergic synaptic vesicles on mast cells. A conclusion was made concerning functional interaction between mast cells and vagal nerve axons.