Anaphylaxis in mast cell-deficient mice

Evidence of a functional deficit in mast cell-deficient mice was sought by testing for the development of systemic anaphylaxis. W/W(v) mast cell-deficient mice and wild type control animals were sensitized by injection of bovine serum albumin and subsequently challenged. Nine of ten W/W(v) mast cell-deficient mice and 10/10 control mice demonstrated signs of anaphylaxis, including death. Although histamine levels were higher in control animals, no differences were noted before and after antigen challenge. The numbers of peripheral blood basophils were the same in W/W(v) and wild type mice. These studies suggest that caution is necessary in the use of these animals to study disease.