Histamine Release from Rat Peritoneal Mast Cells and Cat Paws Induced by Some Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Abstract

AbstractThe capacity of some neuromuscular blocking agents to release histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells and cat paws has been investigated. Only nondepolarizing agents were effective in the concentration ranges used. The order of potency was tubocurarine, dimethyltubocurarine, toxiferine‐C, alcuronium, in contrast to published data on their corresponding order of neuromuscular blocking activity. In addition to histamine release, tubocurarine and dimethyltubocurarine induced the efflux of slow reacting substance (SRS) from perfused cat paws. The release evoked by tubocurarine or dimethyltubocurarine was reduced by potassium cyanide and lack of Ca++. It is concluded that the interonium distance in neuromuscular blocking agents may be critical for histamine releasing capacity.