[Mast cells in calciphylactic pancreatitis].

In the pancreas of female rats (180 g body mass) mast cells were seen with histological and histochemical methods in the periductular and perivasal connective tissue in a less number; they were absent in the interacinar region totally. Compared to it they were relatively numerous in the peripancreatic investing tissue. Under calciphylactic conditions (H. Selye) i. e. after sensitization with Vitamin D2 and infiltration of Ferric dextran only calcifies the interstitium of the pancreatic gland, but not the peripancreatic tissue. It is concluded that mast cells in the calciphylactic reaction of the pancreas are of an inferior importance, a mastocalciphylaxis does not exist, but in the sense of a simple calciphylaxis the collagenous connective tissue undergoes a calcifying reaction.