Reaction Of Mast Cells And Macrophages In Human Gastric Ulcer

In order to further investigate the roles and number changes of mast cells and macrophages during the development of the human stomach ulcer, mast cells were stained with toluidine blue and antibody against tryptase, and antibody against CD68 was used to stain macrophages .The results indicated that the number of mast cells both in control and ulcer groups after staining with antibody against tryptase was significantly greater than that after staining with TB (P<0.05), suggesting that after fixed with formaldehyde, mucosal mast cells could not be stained with traditional methods such as TB staining .In ulcer groups , after staining with TB or antibody against tryptase, the number of mast cells was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The mast cells were mainly distributed in the area close to the ulcer with obvious degranulation. The results of immuno- staining with CD68 antibody showed that the macrophages in control group were mainly distributed in the connective tissue around the gastric glands, and the number was less than that in the ulcer groups, the macrophages around the ulcer site were irregular in size and had various forms. In the small blood vessel near the ulcer site, a large number of CD68 positive cells were found. The findingsindicated that there was correlation in number between mast cells and macrophages in ulcer tissue. It might be that mast cells and macrophages took part in the process of ulcer formation and development . The significance of mast cells and macrophages in the formation, development and healing of stomach ulcer was discussed.