Intradermal actions of hypertonic saline involve neural and vascular mechanisms.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the wheal and flare responses to intradermal injection of hypertonic (4.5%) saline (HTS) were inhibited by local injection of 1% lignocaine. Eight normal subjects were studied on one occasion. Lignocaine (0.125 ml) was infiltrated at four sites on one forearm and normal saline on the other. Five minutes later, duplicate intradermal injections of 30 microliters of histamine (22.5 nmol ml-1), substance P (1 nmol ml-1), HTS and normal saline were given coded and in random order, one of each pair to each forearm. Lignocaine inhibited flare responses to histamine, substance P and HTS by 56% (P < 0.01), 78% (P < 0.01) and 77% (P < 0.05) respectively suggesting similar involvement of an axon reflex. Wheal to histamine was inhibited by 31% (P < 0.02) and to substance P by 33% (P < 0.05) but not to HTS. This suggests that the mechanism of wheal response to HTS differs from that of histamine and substance P.     

Actions of terfenadine and cimetidine on histamine wheal formation.

1. A Latin square design was used to compare the effects of four masked oral drugs, placebo, cimetidine, terfenadine and cimetidine plus terfenadine, at single standard doses against histamine injected at concentrations of 0.3 mM and 0.074 mM subepidermally in eight healthy volunteers studied at weekly intervals. 2. Wheal growth occurred in three phases, an initial delay, a phase of rapid growth where drugs were effective, and a phase of slow growth where there were no significant drug effects. 3. Terfenadine was an effective antihistamine. 4. The data were consistent with a terfenadine effect continued into the next treatment block. 5. Under these conditions cimetidine apparently reduced the effects of terfenadine during the rapid wheal growth phase both simultaneously and after a week's interval from terfenadine dosing.     

Histamine leukocytosis. II. Source of histamine leukocytosis.

Leukocytes were labelled by intravenous injection of tritiated thymidine (3H-thymidine) in dogs to discover the source of the increased number of neutrophils in the circulating blood after injection of histamine in beeswax. Dogs with normal hemograms were given 1.0 mCi/kg of 3H-thymidine alone, and in different sequences, with histamine in beeswax. When 3H-thymidine was given during maintained histamine leukocytosis, labelled granulocytes appeared in and disappeared from the blood earlier than in control tests and the number of labelled cells was greater in the histamine-treated animals. Administration of histamine in beeswax 3 days after injection of 3H-thymidine also induced the premature appearance and disappearance of labelled neutrophils in the circulating blood. It was concluded that leukocytosis induced by the chronic action of histamine is due to 1) stimulated proliferation and differentiation of neutrophil precursor cells in the bone marrow and 2) the release of mature leukocytes from the bone marrow.     

Endogenous histamine reduces plasma insulin-like growth factor I via H1 receptor-mediated pathway in the rat.

Endotoxin has been recently shown to reduce plasma insulin-like growth factor I. As it was reported that histamine can induce gut-derived endotoxemia, we wanted to determine whether histamine has a similar effect on plasma insulin-like growth factor I. Compound 48/80 (a histamine releaser) was injected subcutaneously into rats, then blood was taken for plasma insulin-like growth factor I assay and the livers were assayed for insulin-like growth factor I mRNA. Like endotoxin, injection of compound 48/80 significantly reduced plasma insulin-like growth factor I. Six hours post-injection, plasma insulin-like growth factor I was reduced by 61% (P < 0.001), and 24 h post-injection, it was still lower (by 35% P < 0.001) than in the control group. Hepatic insulin-like growth factor I mRNA was not reduced by this treatment. The effect of compound 48/80 on plasma insulin-like growth factor I was significantly attenuated by oral administration of the histamine H1 receptor antagonist (chlorpheniramine), but not by the histamine H2 receptor antagonists (cimetidine and ranitidine). Oral administration of polymyxin B (an antiendotoxin antibiotic) did not attenuate the effect of compound 48/80 on plasma insulin-like growth factor I at all. In conclusion, endogenous histamine reduces plasma insulin-like growth factor I via H1 receptor-mediated pathway. Our study suggests a novel role of histamine in the regulation of insulin-like growth factor I metabolism in vivo.     

Topical capsaicin pretreatment inhibits axon reflex vasodilatation caused by somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in human skin

1 Wheal and flare reactions are described following intradermal injections of somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P and histamine in normal human forearm skin. Bombesin failed to produce a significant wheal and flare.2 Pretreatment of skin with capsaicin in all cases dramatically inhibited the flare but not the wheal. This result is in accord with the hypothesis that capsaicin blocks the effector side of the axon reflex, perhaps by depleting nerve terminals of vasodilatory peptide(s).     

Histamine leukocytosis. I. Effect of histamine on peripheral leukocyte counts.

The effect of chronic administration of histamine on the number of cells in peripheral blood of dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs was tested by single and consecutive intramuscular injections of histamine in a beeswax-sesame oil mixture. Leukocytosis due to increased numbers of neutrophils occurred in all animals after single injections of histamine in beeswax, although erythrocytes and hematocrit values were unaffected in all species. When injection of histamine was repeated on consecutive days, the extent of leukocytosis subsided in some cases; however, the simultaneous administration of aminoguanidine restored leukocytosis. Single or daily injections of the beeswax-sesame oil mixture without histamine had none of these effects in any animals tested. Although simultaneous injections of histamine and H1 receptor antagonists did not alter histamine effects, the combined administrations of histamine and H2 receptor blocking agents suppressed histamine-induced leukocytosis.     

Plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of histamine after inhalation and subcutaneous injection of histamine.

1. Increased histamine concentrations are found in the plasma and urine following allergen challenge in allergic subjects. This study compared a controlled challenge with clinically relevant doses of inhaled and injected histamine, as indicative of an allergic response, in an attempt to validate the use of urinary histamine or 1-methylhistamine measurements as an objective, non-invasive diagnostic test. 2. Inhalation of histamine produced peripheral vasodilation, increased heart rate, a fall in partial expiratory flow rate (pEFR) and blood pressure, 'tight chest' and cough. Subcutaneous injection produced vasodilation and headache but no change in heart rate or blood pressure. 3. Plasma histamine concentrations were similar in the two studies. Inhalation of increasing doses of histamine through a nebuliser (output 0.13 ml min-1) resulted in an increase from a mean of 0.30 to 1.65 ng ml-1, with return towards baseline within 20 min. Injection of 1 mg histamine s.c. produced an increase from 0.32 to 1.4 ng ml-1 within 5 min, remaining above 1 ng ml-1 for 30 min. 4. There was a significant increase of 15.2 ng mg-1 creatinine in urinary histamine concentration following the injection of histamine (P = 0.04) and an increase of 11.4 ng mg-1 creatinine when histamine was given by inhalation (P = 0.18). Histamine excretion rate increased by 108 ng min-1 (P = 0.04) after inhalation and by 37.2 ng min-1 (P = 0.09) after injection. Urinary 1-methylhistamine concentrations were significantly raised following both histamine inhalation (+ 238 ng mg-1 creatinine; P = 0.013) and injection (+ 180 ng mg-1 creatinine; P = 0.03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of histamine on the serotonergic system of rat brain.

Both histamine and 4-methylhistamine, after intraventricular injection into normal rats, reduced the levels of serotonin and increased those of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in hypothalamus; after injection into tranylcypromine-treated rats, head twitches were induced which were blocked by antiserotonin agents. 2-Pyridylethylamine, an agonist of histamine H1 receptors, neither influenced serotonin level in hypothalamus nor evoked behavioural changes. It is concluded that injected histamine may release serotonin from the hypothalamus and that this produces the behavioural changes.     

五步蛇毒对大鼠海马组胺受体H_1 mRNA和蛋白质表达的影响

目的研究五步蛇毒对大鼠海马组胺受体H1mRNA及蛋白质表达的影响。方法用半定量RT-PCR和Western blot方法,检测腹腔注射五步蛇毒后不同时相大鼠海马组胺受体H1mRNA及蛋白质表达的变化。结果五步蛇毒处理后,大鼠海马组胺受体H1mRNA及蛋白质的表达在各时相点均发生变化,且其mRNA和蛋白质表达均为先下调后上调。结论五步蛇毒对大鼠脑区海马组胺H1受体mRNA和蛋白质表达都有影响。H1受体mRNA和蛋白质表达的改变对大脑的生理功能有一定的影响,可能是该蛇毒致脑功能障碍的分子基础之一。     

Histamine is released from skin by substance P but does not act as the final vasodilator in the axon reflex.

We have explored in man the hypothesis that histamine released from dermal mast cells by neurotransmitters from afferent nerves contributes to vasodilatation of the axon reflex. The ability of substance P to release histamine from human skin in vivo, and the effects of a histamine H1-receptor antagonist on capsaicin-induced axon reflex flares were studied. Intradermal injections of substance P (50 pmol) produced a weal and flare response which was associated with increased histamine concentration in blood draining the site (mean plasma histamine concentration before injection 0.17 +/- 0.02 ng ml-1 (+/- s.e.mean), concentration one minute after injection 1.26 +/- 0.28 ng ml-1, n = 6). Terfenadine, an H1-receptor antagonist, had no effect on the flare response to intradermal injection of capsaicin at a dose which inhibited by more than 60% the flare response to exogenous histamine and to histamine released from dermal mast cells by substance P. Substance P releases histamine from human skin in vivo. However, whatever the nature of the neurotransmitter released from afferent nerves during the axon reflex, it does not produce vasodilatation through release of histamine from dermal mast cells. Histamine may still contribute to the flare by initiation of the reflex.     

青藤碱的药理作用Ⅶ.对胃肠道活动的影响及其机制

本文报告青藤碱对麻醉犬和免在位肠管的影响.静脉注射青藤碱引起小肠暂时兴奋,这种兴奋作用可被笨海拉明、六烃季胺完全阻断,阿托品完全或部分阻断,但切断两侧迷走神经不能阻断.给犬静脉注射青藤碱,可使胃分泌和酸度增加,胃蛋白酶活性无明显改变.青藤碱在兴奋肠管同时使血浆组织胺含量和淋巴形成增加,皮肤组织胺含量下降.以上结果表明青藤碱引起胃肠道兴奋的主要原因,系青藤碱释放组织胺的结果.     

Possible involvement of cyclic AMP in inflammation induced by a surfactant.

Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (alkyl-DBAC), a cationic surfactant, produces acute exudative inflammation accompanied by an enhancement of energy metabolism. The mechanism of metabolic changes, consequently the cyclic AMP level and the effects of certain drugs were determined in the gastrocnemius muscles of rats in which acute exudative inflammation had been induced by intramuscular injections of alkyl-DBAC. A transient increase in the cyclic AMP level was noted at 15 to 30 minutes after the injection of alkyl-DBAC, and this elevation was antagonized by chlorpromazine, diphenhydramine, promethazine, aspirin and indomethacin. The time course of increasing tendency in the cyclic AMP level after the injection of histamine closely paralleled that of alkyl-DBAC. These results suggest that cyclic AMP may be involved in the metabolic changes with inflammation induced by alkyl-DBAC.     

Effect of histamine and histamine antagonists on portal blood pressure in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

1 Histamine injection via the cannulated portal vein significantly raised the portal pressure in normal volunteers. This elevation was reversed by an H1-receptor blocker but not an H2-receptor blocker. When an H1-receptor blocker was injected first followed by histamine, no significant change in portal pressure was obtained. On the other hand, an H2-receptor blocker failed to antagonize the effect of histamine. 2 Histamine injection induced a non-significant increase in the portal pressure in patients with schistosomal portal hypertension, but when an H1-receptor blocker was injected a significant drop in the portal pressure was obtained. No similar effect was found after an H2-receptor blocker injection. 3 Angiographic study showed that histamine induced intrahepatic portal vasoconstriction in the normal controls. A similar change was obtained in the schistosomal group, particularly on the periportal neovascular formation. 4 In the light of the present study, it is suggested that histamine may contribute in part to the physiopathologic changes that lead to portal hypertension in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. H1-receptor antagonists may have a role in the treatment of portal hypertension, particularly in bleeding varices.     

Histamine-induced ACTH secretion and inhibitory effect of antihistaminic drugs.

Concentration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the serum increased and reached the maximum level 10 min after the injection of histamine (dihydrochloride, 0.5 or 1 mg/100 g) i.p. into rats. The maximum concentration of ACTH in the serum was dependent on the dose of histamine. The ACTH concentration then decreased and was close to the normal level 30 to 60 min after the injection. The ACTH secretion induced by histamine (0.5 mg/100 g) was inhibited completely by the pretreatment with the antagonists of H1-receptor, diphenyhydramine (hydrochloride, 0.2--0.5 mg/100 g), promethazine (hydrochloride, 0.1--0.2 mg/100 g) and d-chlorpheniramine (maleate, 0.02--0.05 mg/100 g). The antagonist of H2-receptor, metiamide (2--4 mg/100 g) inhibited the ACTH secretion significantly but not completely. These results suggest that H1-receptor plays a major role in the histamine-induced ACTH secretion, although H2-receptor is also involved in this ACTH secretion.     

The influence of histamine and PGE2-induced hyperaemia and oedema on respiratory metabolism in normal human forearm skin

Transcutaneous measurements of pO2 and pCO2 were made on the forearm skin after intradermal injection of histamine, PGE2, and saline. The mediators, used at concentrations which induce intense hyperaemia, did not modify the steady state tcpO2/pCO2 levels measured with a sensor head temperature of 44 degrees C when breathing air or hyperbaric (2ATA) oxygen. It was deduced that gas transport is unaffected by mediator-induced conditions in the skin. The rates of fall of tcpO2 and of rise of tcpCO2 after arresting the forearm circulation by cuff occlusion of the arm were significantly less at the histamine site than at the PGE2 and saline sites. The values over the PGE2 and saline injection sites were less than those over undisturbed skin. The dynamic tests of respiratory gas exchange indicate that the skin metabolic rate is reduced at all injection sites and the greatest effect was seen with histamine. Measurement of dermal thickness after saline injection has shown that the excess interstitial fluid persists at the time of maximal hyperaemia: this is further accentuated at the histamine site through active oedema formation. Accumulation of excess interstitial fluid (persistence of aqueous injection or oedema generated by the action of mediator) separates the tissue cells. The reduction in the number of cells per unit volume is sufficient to explain the observed reduction in oxygen consumption per unit volume of skin. It is concluded that the increased diffusional distances in mediator-induced oedema are unimportant for the respiration of otherwise normal tissues, but that oedema by reducing oxygen flux may contribute appreciably to the hypoxia of inflamed tissue infiltrated with metabolically active cells.     

Inflammatory response induced by intrapleural injection of antiserum to IgE in rat. An evaluation of the role of histamine

Intrapleural injection of antiserum to rat IgE (anti-IgE) into rats resulted in release of histamine from mast cells and rapid effusion of fluid and plasma proteins into the pleural cavity. By 4 hr this was followed by infiltration of neutrophils. These responses were dependent on the amount of anti-IgE injected, and maximal responses were greater than those obtained with compound 48/80. The effusion of fluid and protein, but not the infiltration of cells, was partially suppressed by prior treatment with the H1 histamine receptor antagonist mepyramine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) or the H2 antagonist metiamide (100 mg/kg, s.c.) and was almost totally suppressed (85-88%) when both drugs were administered simultaneously. Neither methysergide (1 and 4 mg/kg, s.c.) nor indomethacin (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.v.) had an effect on the responses to anti-IgE. Although it seemed likely that histamine was a primary mediator of increased vascular permeability, the intrapleural injection of histamine agonists or histamine in large amounts (50 micrograms) provoked a much less intense response than did anti-IgE. The effects of injected histamine may not, therefore, mimic those induced by histamine released from mast cells in situ. The intrapleural injection of histamine releasers such as anti-IgE may serve as a useful model to test the therapeutic efficacy of antihistamine drugs. The present results also confirm previous reports that localized neutrophil infiltration occurs after mast cell degranulation.     

Alterations of histamine metabolism after injections of sex hormones in mice

1. Urinary excretion of histamine in female mice was determined after the injection of oestradiol, progesterone or testosterone. Histamine excretion was increased by oestradiol but was not affected by progesterone. Testosterone administration, by contrast, effected a striking reduction of histamine excretion.2. After injection of oestradiol, the kidney histamine forming capacity was greatly elevated, but in the other tissues investigated no significant change occurred.3. Testosterone administered in vivo but not in vitro reduced the histidine decarboxylase activity of female mouse kidney to a small fraction of normal.4. On thin-layer chromatography, after extraction and coupling of the amines to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene, the amount of histamine and to a lesser extent, methyl histamine in urine was reduced after testosterone administration. On the chromatogram of urine from untreated mice, an unidentified yellow spot appeared and the quantity of this spot was increased during testosterone treatment.     

Pharmacological characterization of mouse hind paw oedema induced by Bothrops insularis (jararaca ilhoa) snake venom.

Bothrops snake venoms produce marked local effects, including oedema, haemorrhage and necrosis. The ability of Bothrops insularis venom to induce oedema in mice was investigated. Venom was injected into hind paws and the change in volume over time was measured by plethysmometry. B. insularis venom (0.01-2.5 microg/paw) induced paw oedema which, at high doses (>/=0.5 microg/paw), was accompanied by haemorrhage. The peak oedematogenic response occurred 3 h after venom injection with all doses and decreased gradually thereafter, but was still elevated with high doses after 24 h. Pretreating the mice with cyproheptadine (histamine H(1) and serotonin 5-HT(2) receptor antagonist), mepyramine (histamine H(1) receptor antagonist), L-NAME (inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase), indomethacin and rofecoxib (inhibitors of cyclooxygenases), and dexamethasone (indirect inhibitor of PLA(2)) significantly attenuated venom-induced oedema, whereas methysergide, a serotonin 5-HT(1)/5-HT(2) receptor antagonist, had no effect. The administration of antivenom 30 min before or immediately after venom injection also significantly inhibited venom-induced oedema. These results show that B. insularis venom causes oedema in the mouse hind paw and that this response is mediated by histamine, nitric oxide, and arachidonic acid metabolites formed by cyclooxygenases 1 and 2. The neutralization by commercial antivenom indicates that the venom components responsible for oedema are recognized by the antivenom and share immunological identity with their counterparts in the venoms of mainland Bothrops species.     

An improved method for the determination of histamine release in man: its application in studies with propanidid and thiopentone

Histamine release by propanidid and thiopentone was demonstrated with the use of a highly sensitive and specific method for determining histamine in human plasma. 5 min after i.v. administration of propanidid and 3 min after thiopentone, the plasma histamine level was increased by 350 and 420% respectively. In whole blood, histamine release could be demonstrated only when the basophil content remained constant. This was the case in about 50% of test persons after injection of propanidid, but not after administration of thiopentone where the basophil content decreased in all probands by about 35%. The increase of the histamine concentration in plasma was 3 ng/ml and in whole blood, 24 ng/ml. Half-maximum gastric acid secretion was elicited by injection of propanidid and thiopentone. It was increased by very rapid application of propanidid and diminished by premedication with atropine by about 30%. The changes in plasma histamine and gastric secretion were parallel over 30 min, whereas tachycardia and peripheral arterial hypotension lasted for only 3–4 min.     

Inhibitory effect of beta-adrenergic stimulants on the histamine reaction in human skin. I. Studies with fenoterol.

In 20 volunteers histamine inhibition by fenoterol (Th 1165 a) was studied. The wheal and erythema reaction caused by intracutaneous application of 5 mug histamine can be inhibited by applying fenoterol in doses from 100--400 mug in form of a metered aerosol on the skin 5 min before the injection of histamine. In this study the dose-reaction effect yielded on ED50 of 140 mug fenoterol.