Liberation of a Histamine-Like Substance on Stimulation of Sympathetic Nerves

Abstract

Several attempts have been made to find a nervous mechanism for the release of histamine from body tissues,1, 2 but thus tar the only evidence that such may exist has been indirect.3 The present study deals with the release of histamine by the skin upon stimulation of sympathetic nerves. The epidermal layer of the skin contains relatively large quantities of histamine (24 γ/g).Experiments were carried out on rabbits, unanesthetized or anesthetized lightly with urethane or ether. The cervical sympathetic trunk and its superior ganglion were prepared for stimulation with bipolar electrodes (4 to 60 sec, primary 3 volts, secondary coil at 10 cm). Blood samples obtained from the great auricular vein by venipuncture before and after nerve stimulation were compared for their ability to contract an isolated segment of guinea pig ileum according to the method of Schultz and Dale. Atropinized Ringer-Locke solution was used in the muscle bath in every case. Standard histamine solutions were used for comparison of c...