Fig. 2

Effects of catechin on mast cell degranulation. A Differential-interference contrast (DIC) microscopic images were taken before (a) and after exocytosis was externally induced by compound 48/80 in mast cells incubated in the external solutions containing no catechin (b), 1 mM catechin (c), 2.5 mM catechin (d), 5 mM catechin (e), 10 mM catechin (f) and 25 mM catechin (g). B After the mast cells were incubated in the external solutions containing no caffeine or different concentrations (1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 25 mM) of catechin, exocytosis was induced by compound 48/80. The numbers of degranulating mast cells were expressed as percentages of the total mast cell numbers in selected bright fields. ^#p < 0.05 vs. incubation in the external solution alone. Values are means ± SD. Differences were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s t test