NATURE OF THE THYMUS DEPENDENCY OF MUCOSAL MAST-CELLS .1. ADAPTIVE SECONDARY RESPONSE TO CHALLENGE WITH NIPPOSTRONGYLUS-BRASILIENSIS

The kinetics of mucosal mast cell (MMC) hyperplasia in the jejeunum of rats following primary and secondary infestations with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis have been studied. Evidence of memory was found in the secondary MMC response, characterized by reduced latent period of the response, heightened magnitude, and increased local proliferation of MMC. It is suggested that the similarity to the secondary immune response may not be fortuitous, and that MMC hyperplasia may be a manifestation of the adaptive immune response to the parasite. © 1979.