Smallest zinc quantities affect the histamine release from peritoneal mast cells of the rat

Summary Seven individual 0.025-mg doses of zinc administered as lactose tablets on consecutive days, significantly increase histamine release from peritoneal mast cells of the rat. Seven individual doses of 0.25 g cause a somewhat smaller, though still very pronounced increase in the release in comparison with zero control.Acknowledgments. We thank Ms T. L. Pham and Ms K. Löppen for their technical assistance.