Topic:Mast Cells
Mast cells are a type of white blood cell found in various tissues of horses, particularly in the skin, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal system. They are involved in the body's immune response and play a significant role in allergic reactions and inflammation. Mast cells contain granules rich in histamine and other mediators that are released upon activation, contributing to the physiological processes associated with immune defense. In horses, mast cells are studied for their involvement in conditions such as allergic dermatitis, respiratory disorders, and anaphylaxis. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the distribution, function, and clinical implications of mast cells in equine health.
The content of mast cells in the pleural membranes, pericardium and liver capsule of cattle and horse; a comparison with earlier observations and assays of heparin and of histamine in these tissues. The number of mast cells per area and volume have been counted in the pleura, pericardium and capsula hepatis of cattle and horse.
The capsula hepatis of cattle contains a 5—10 times larger number of mast cells than the other tissues. The pleura pulmonalis showed a content of mast cells which was only a fraction of that in the liver capsule. The high histamine content found by Riley and coworkers when analyzing ox pleura seem to indicate that histamine is liberated not only from the mast cells, but also from other elements of the tissues.