Evaluation of histamine elimination curves in plasma and whole blood of several circulatory regions: A method for studying kinetics of histamine release in the whole animal

Abstract

Histamine concentrations in canine whole blood and plasma were determined under several pharmacological, pathophysiological, and clinical conditions using fluorometric methods.The specificity of the assay for whole-blood histamine was investigated by comparing 3 purification procedures for the isolation of histamine from whole blood including butanol extraction (Shore), ion-exchange chromatography on Dowex 50 W-X 8, and the combination of these 2 methods (Lorenz). Histamine in whole blood was identified in analytical and preparative samples by fluorescence spectra, thin-layer chromatography, degradation by diamine oxidase from pig kidney and inactivation by histamine methyltransferase from guinea-pig brain as well as by biological tests on the isolated guinea-pig ileum. Since butanol extraction resulted in significantly higher 'histamine' values than the other two purification procedures, ionexchange chromatography on Dowex 50 was recommended as the method of choice for the specific determination of histamine in doffs whole blood.Normal values of histamine concentrations in canine plasma were tentatively estimated. They depended on the time between pretreatment of the animals (anaesthesia, operation) and the collection of blood and showed an approximately logarithmic normal distribution. The median, the lower/upper quartiles and the range of the plasma histamine levels obtained 30 minutes after the end of pretreatment were 0.2, 0-0.4 and 0-1.2 ng/ml, respectively. Nearly 50 % of the values were zero (below 0.1 ng according to the sensitivity of the method), only 1 ~ of them exceeded slightly 1 ng/ml. Thus histamine release by drugs or by other medical treatments was only stated, when plasma histamine levels exceeded 1 ng/ml and decreased in a way to give an elimination carve of approximately first-order kinetics (Bateman function).Histamine concentrations in dog's whole blood showed approximately a logarithmic normal distribution. The median, lower/upper quartiles and range were 47, 34/75 and 13-209 ng/ml respectively.

Histamine and peptic ulcer: A prospective study of mucosal histamine concentration in duodenal ulcer patients and in control subjects suffering from various gastrointestinal diseases

“…The finding of a decrease in stored histamine in duodenal ulcer disease first led to the hypothesis that this might be due to an augmented histamine liberation in this disease. In short-term experiments indeed a decrease of tissue histamine content reflects histamine release, mast cell degranulation and occurrence of the amine in body fluids Lorenz et al, 1974b). Similar results were obtained from rat gastric mucosa where histamine is not secreted from mast cells but from enterochromaffin-like cells (Kahlson et al, 1964;Thunberg, 1967;Hfikanson et al, 1967;Lundell, 1974).…”

Prophylaxis of anaphylactoid reactions to a polypeptidal plasma substitute by H1- plus H2-receptor antagonists: Synopsis of three randomized controlled trials

“…Whole blood histamine assay is easier than plasma histamine assay, and in dogs whole blood histamine determinations can replace plasma histamine determinations since dogs have a very low whole blood histamine level due to a very small number of basophils [8, I t]. The other two catheters were inserted both into the aorta, one for measuring the arterial blood pressure by a Statham pressure transducer and Hellige compensograph, the other for a rapid bleeding (for details see Vars et al [19] and Messmer et al [12@ After these manipulations the animals were a/lowed to recover for 20 rain [18]. Dimethpyrindene (1 mg/kg) and cimetidine (5 mg/kg) or saline as a placebo solution were administered i.v.…”

“…5 ml blood were taken twice before premedication, 3 min after premedication and 1, 5,10,20 and 30 min after potygetine infusion. Histamine levels were always expressed as top levels according to Lorenz et al [12,18]. [16] It was not intended in this trial to study only cutaneous anaphylactoid reactions.…”

“…In each group only one animal showed an increase in blood histamine levels, 1.9 ng/mt in the saline group and 1.1 ng/ml in the H~ +H2-group. Thus there was no indication that pretreatment with dimethpyrindene and cimetidine either altered the histamine release [2a] nor had an influence on the catabolism of the released histamine [18].…”

Determination of histamine in human plasma: the European external quality control study 1988

“…The determination of histamine concentrations in plasnia has important applications [14,20,21.27,30.43 54]; because of the short halflife time of histamine (c. 2 min.) [55,56] this is especially important in the field of controlled studies, in which it is possible to collect blood samples at regular times. However, in a meta-analysis evaluation about the role of histamine as a mediator in septic/endotoxic shock, threequarters of the relevant studies are quoted as being an unreliable assay for measuring histamine in human 349 [ [47,56], plasma and the authors conclude 'it is irrational to develop theories about any pathomechanism of histamine release before this error has been carefully excluded" [51].…”