High Levels Of Histamine Research Articles

Argyrophil cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix with ectopic production of acth, β-MSH, serotonin, histamine, and amylase

The case of a 38-year-old female with primary argyrophil cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is reported. Two years after operation the patient developed widespread metastases with typical Cushing's syndrome. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of solid anaplastic cells, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cells. The plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol were elevated. Many cells of both the primary and metastatic tumors showed argyrophilia. Almost all the cells of the metastases contained numerous round secretory granules measuring about 117 micrometers in diameter. Small rod-shaped or larger round secretory granules, measuring 250 and 430 micrometers respectively, were also found in a few of these cells. The tumors in the right lung, pancreas, and kidney contained high levels of ACTH, beta-MSH, serotonin, histamine, and amylase. This is the first report of ectopic production of these five substances from argyrophil cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Role of plasma histamine in liver injury--clinical and experimental investigations.

Plasma histamine level (PHL) was evaluated by a modified fluorometric assay (Suzuki) in the patients with various forms of liver disease as well as rabbits with liver injury. And the data obtained were compared with liver function tests in assessing the stage and prognosis of hepatic dysfunction. In acute hepatitis, if its prognosis was "good", as was also shown in the animal group with single dose administration of CCl4, the level of plasma histamine attained a peak before that of serum transaminases, and returned to normal prior to that of the latter. In persistent and chronic hepatitis, although correlation between PHL and other liver function tests was poor and variable, PHL remained high. And the estimation of PHL during the course of this state showed that it was elevated prior to that of serum transaminases, in dicating high level of plasma histamine in this state, even in apparent "steady state", worsening of the disease. In liver cirrhosis PHL correlated with the degree of serum transaminases as well as serum gammaglobulin. In "poor prognosis" group (patients with hepatic coma and rabbits treated with consecutive administration of CCl4) PHL increased extremely high, which was contrasted with the lowered levels of transaminases. These results strikingly suggest that histamine is involved in liver injury and estimation of PHL in the course of hepatic disorder is useful for a prediction of prognosis.

Histamine production by Klebsiella pneumoniae and an incident of scombroid fish poisoning

A histamine-producing strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from a sample of tuna sashimi implicated in an outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning. None of the other nine gram-negative bacterial strains isolated from the tuna sashimi was capable of equivalent histamine production. Bacterial histamine production was monitored in a tuna fish infusion broth (TFIB), and the implicated K. pneumoniae was capable of producing 442 mg of histamine per 100 g of tuna in TFIB in 7 h under controlled incubation conditions. Only 12 of 50 other K. pneumoniae strains, representing 5 distinct biochemical types, which had been originally isolated from foods, were able to produce such levels of histamine in TFIB. No correlation was found between histamine production and other biochemical characteristics or antibiotic resistance. Of the 12 histamine-producing strains, 11 belonged to type 2, which is characterized as indole negative with positive reactions in the urea and Voges-Proskauer tests. However, only 50% of the type 2 strains examined produced high levels of histamine in TFIB. Additionally, the implicated K. pneumoniae strain and one other strain belonged to type 1, which is characterized by positive reactions in the indole, urea, and Voges-Proskauer tests.

Der Bluthistaminspiegel bei chronischen myeloproliferativen Erkrankungen – Ein Überblick

Since the discovery of a very high blood histamine level in chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) 1936, the author could ascertain that this parameter is very useful in the differential diagnosis between CML and various "leukemoid" reactions; in the early diagnosis of CML and in the differential diagnosis between CML and other myeloproliferative disorders. Recent researches proved that no correlation exists between blood histamine level and basophil count in the peripheral blood. Further investigations in this field have to clear up the questions whether it is possible by means of repeated controls of the blood histamine level to predict the development of a polycythemia vera into CML or to establish in a case of osteomyelosclerosis that this disease has been Preceeded by A CML.

A Survey of Histamine Levels in Sausages

A survey of 390 sausage samples of nine different types obtained at the retail level revealed the following mean histamine levels on a mg/100 g basis: bologna −0.55, cooked salami −0.83, kosher salami −0.50, beef summer sausage −1.07, thuringer-cervelat −2.35, thuringer −1.19. Italian dry salami Brand A — 24.5, Brand B — 2.14, Brand C — 19.1. pepperoni Brand D — 1.03, Brand B — 1.42, Brand C — 38.1, and chorizo — 2.29. The dry, fermented sausages (Italian dry salami and pepperoni) had higher and more variable histamine levels than either the cooked or the semi-dry sausages. The brand specific differences seen in Italian dry salami and pepperoni, which are significant at the 0.005 level, would suggest that proper control of the natural fermentations could largely prevent histamine accumulation. These differences also indicate that the microflora of each processing plant influences the microflora and the resultant histamine levels of the naturally fermented sausage. Since the semi-dry sausages (beef summer sausage, thuringer-cervelat, and thuringer) are fermented by addition of commercial lactic acid starter cultures, these bacteria must produce only small amounts of histamine. The presence of rather high histamine levels in some samples of Italian dry salami and pepperoni suggests that the potential exists for formation of toxic levels of histamine in dry, fermented sausage if any gross mishandling of the product occurs.

Effects of orally ingested histamine and/or commercially canned spoiled skipjack tune on pigs, cats, dogs and rabbits

1. Spoiled tuna containing a high level of histamine was fed to pigs, cats, dogs and rabbits, following a 24-hr fast. 2. Duroc pigs were the only animals which showed a reaction to the fish (regurgitation). 3. Those weighing 18–36 kg were more reactive than the heavier animals. 4. Durocs were more sensitive than other breeds tested.

Daphnia magna as a bioassay system for histamine in tuna extracts.

Live Daphnia were subjected to varying concentrations of aqueous extracts from three lots of commercially canned tuna. Two of the lots had been identified as causing “scombroid poisoning”, and contained high histamine (Hm) levels. The third was a control lot of store-bought tuna. The extract of the control fish was used either alone or with the addition of Hm at levels equalling or exceeding the Hm concentrations in the other two lots. Twenty Daphnia per group were exposed for 60 minutes: responses (loss of activity or infrequent twitching) were recorded at ten minute intervals. The response increased with time, and was dependent upon the concentration of Hm presentregardless of source. LD50's for the various time and concentration gradients are shown. The method might be useful in quality control testing.

Effects of chronic stress on the development of histamine enzymes.

The activity of histidine-decarboxylase (HD) and histamine-N-methyl transferase (HMT) was studied in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex of rats from birth to adulthood. Developmental patterns were compared in sea level controls and in rats born and maintained continuously in a natural hypoxic environment (at a high altitude of 3800 m, PO2 13%) to determine whether chronic stress alters the development of the enzymes for histamine. When expressed in terms of total activity, both enzyme activities were low at birth and progressively increased with age in the two areas studied. When expressed in terms of specific activity, the developmental pattern of the enzymes better reflected that of histamine: for example, at birth, high HD activity and low HMT corresponded to high histamine levels; at 7 days, low HD activity and high HMT corresponded to low histamine levels. It is suggested that a feedback mechanism may operate between endogenous histamine levels and the activity of its synthesizing and catabolizing enzymes.

Histamine H2-receptor antagonists and gastric acid secretion -- a progress report.

Histamine H2-receptor antagonists, including burimamide, metiamide and cimetidine, are effective antagonists of histamine-stimulated acid secretion from mammalian, avian or reptilian gastric mucosa. Acid secretion stimulated by gastrin or pentagastrin is also inhibited by these drugs, but there is disagreement about the effects of these drugs on acid secretion resulting from activation of acetylcholine receptors. Based on the pharmacological evidence possibilities of treatment by these drugs were discussed in cases with excessive stimulation of acid secretion due to high blood levels of histamine or gastrin. The positive results in several trials on Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and peptic ulcer were very impressive. Some practical problems have still to be solved, for example the appropriate phase for applying the drugs. The demonstrated clinical effectiveness, however, against peptic ulceration offers a clear alternative to surgery for many patients.

The presence of histamine in the tissues of Ascaris suum

1. 1. The mean histamine content of mature female Ascaris suum, as determined by both fluorimetric and biological assays, was 100 ng/g wet weight (range of 12 samples, 68–138 ng/g). 2. 2. High levels of histamine were found in intestine (290 ng/g); lower levels were present in the reproductive system (100 ng/g), muscle and nerve (90 ng/g), and perienteric fluid (74 ng/g). 3. 3. The histamine content of immature Ascaris suum was about 60% of that of mature specimens.

State of the histamine?Histaminase system in the course of traumatic shock

The histamine content and diamine oxidase activity in the blood and tissues were studied in dogs in the course of evolution of traumatic shock. Phasic changes were found in histaminase activity which led to the development of excessively high histamine levels during the development of traumatic shock. Imbalance between monoamines and histamine is considered to play an important role in the genesis of the hemodynamic and central disorders in shock.

The subcellular localization of histamine and histamine methyltransferase in rat brain.

Abstract— We have examined the subcellular localization of histamine and histamine methyl‐transferase (S‐adenosylmethionine: histamine 7V‐methyltransferase; EC 2.1.1.8) in rat brain. The highest levels of histamine and histamine methyltransferase activity were found in the hypothalamus. A large proportion of hypothalamic histamine and histamine methyltransferase activity was found in particles with sedimentation properties in sucrose gradients similar to synaptosomes storing norepinephrine and serotonin. Histamine displayed a bimodal distribution in sucrose gradients. A substantial amount of a tracer dose of [3H]histamine added to hypothalamic homogenates at 4°C was bound to particulate fractions, suggesting that endogenous histamine may redistribute and bind to subcellular fractions during homogenization. The second, lighter peak of histamine in sucrose gradients was thought to be due to histamine that redistributed during homogenization.

A reversible acute reaction following intravenous administration of antithymocyte globulin.

In experimental studies in pigs, it was shown that the first intravenous injection of potent equine antiporcine thymocyte globulin (ATG) induced a symptomatic anaphylactic reaction which was accompanied by high plasma histamine and serotonin levels, depletion of the peripheral stores of these compounds and a pronounced lymphopenia. A refractory state followed in which further ATG injections did not induce such reactions. Patients treated with equine antihuman ATG had a similar reaction and refractory period. Antihistamine therapy was both prophylactic and effective in reversing the symptoms. It is suggested that the symptomatic anaphylactic reaction observed was due to reverse type anaphylaxis caused by an antigen antibody reaction (ATG + lymphocyte) in which pharmacological mediators were released. It was demonstrated experimentally that the refractory state was attributed to the absence of sufficient numbers of ATG sensitive lymphocytes during the subsequent injections. Depressed serum complement levels and a reduced store of histamine and serotonin observed in the experimental animals may have participated toward the induction of the refractory period. It is recommended that reverse anaphylaxis be considered when an acute reaction is observed in patients who have no evidence of antibodies to horse proteins.

The evolution of vascular smooth muscle responses to histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. 3. Manifestation of dual actions of either amine in reptiles.

AbstractStudies on the vascular smooth muscle responses to histamine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine and on the distribution of these amines in different tissues were performed in several species of reptiles. The responses to adrenaline, noradrenaline and acetylcholine were studied for comparison. Vascular actions were recorded both in vivo as changes in systemic arterial blood pressure and in vitro as changes in vascular resistance in perfused preparations. The specificity of the action of each drug was evaluated by means of pharmacological blocking agents. Tissue levels of histamine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine were determined spectrofluorometrically. Fluorescence microscopy was used for histochemical localization of the histamine stores. The results indicate that histamine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine exert dual actions (inhibitory and stimulatory) on reptilian vascular smooth muscles which have thus acquired response patterns towards these amines similar to those found in mammals. Inhibitory as well as stimulatory actions of adrena line, noradrenaline and acetylcholine are also present in reptiles. Levels of 5‐hydroxytrypt amine are apparently low in most tissues, whereas many species show very high tissue levels of histamine. Histamine, except that of the stomach, is mainly located in tissue mast cells and blood basophils. Nutritional‐dependent variations in mast cell number are parallelled by varia tions in tissue histamine content. By comparing the present results with those previously ob tained in jawless vertebrates, fish and amphibians, a general outline of the evolution of vascular actions and tissue stores of histamine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine is presented.

Effect of Prepartum and Postpartum Diet on Histamine Metabolism of Young Holstein Cows

Animals preconditioned with low levels of concentrate for three to four weeks before changing to a high-concentrate diet at parturition showed higher histamine concentration in the rumen (P<.05) than those going from an all-hay diet to a high-concentrate diet, or than those on a low-concentrate diet during the postpartum period. These higher levels of histamine could not be related to a reduction in rumen pH. Increases in plasma histamine concentration (P<.05) during the postpartum period did not appear to be related to the elevations observed in the rumen. A higher (P<.01) histamine concentration was found in mammary secretions obtained before parturition than in those obtained after parturition. An increase in blood glucose (P<.01) on the day of calving did not appear to be due to dehydration, because a similar response was not observed in hemoglobin. Treatment-related health disorders were observed in two animals. Whereas histamine may have been responsible for the manifestation of some of the observed symptoms, other undetermined factors must be involved, because cows in groups with the highest histamine levels were not adversely affected.

Poisonous Alkaloids in the Body Tissues of the Cinnabar Moth (Callimorpha jacobaeae L.)

Callimorpha jacobaeae L. (the cinnabar moth) has a brilliant red and blackish warning coloration (aposematic), and is a day-flying moth known to be unacceptable to a wide variety of vertebrate predators1–3. The larva, which feeds on groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.) and ragwort (Senecio jacobaeae L.), has a black and yellow warning coloration and is rejected by many birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians; it is, however, preyed upon by various arthropods4. When roughly handled the imago ejects or leaks out a pungent secretion mixed with yellow haemolymph from its prothoracic glands5. The adult moth contains a remarkably high level of histamine in its body tissues (700 µg/g)—a substance frequently associated with poison glands in invertebrates6–8.

STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF NIDATION: X.

ABSTRACT Accumulated evidence suggested the occurrence of the following sequence of events in nidation in the rat: An oestrogen-surge, occurring on day L3 of pregnancy, releases histamine in the uterus; the liberated histamine stimulates the progestational endometrium, inducing decidualization. Since an oestrogen-surge occurs also during pseudopregnancy, the same sequelae, culminating in decidualization, are to be invariably expected. The present study was undertaken to determine the basis for the rarity of spontaneous decidualization in the pseudopregnant rat. Measurement of day to day changes in the histamine content of the rat uterus confirmed the occurrence of histamine-release following the oestrogen-surge of pregnancy. During pseudopregnancy, however, following the histamine decline after oestrus, a high histamine level is not re-established as in pregnancy but the histamine content remains low and no release is observed after the oestrogen-surge of pseudopregnancy. Supplementing the surge oestrogen with exogenous oestradiol or oestriol in doses as great as 40 μg failed to induce a significant degree of decidualization in the pseudopregnant rat, indicating that no significant release of histamine was induced. The rarity of spontaneous decidualization in the pseudopregnant rat therefore is due to the absence of a pool of histamine amenable to release by oestrogen. It is, therefore, apparent that hormonal influences on the uterus are not identical in pseudopregnancy and in pregnancy.

The effect of adrenalectomy on the urinary excretion of histamine in the rat.

ABSTRACT The urinary excretion of histamine was followed in female rats after adrenalectomy or sham operation. The urinary histamine in adrenalectomized rats kept on saline showed a progressive increase from the 4th postoperative day. In rats kept on water the urinary histamine was unchanged until the 8th day when an increase took place. At 7 to 16 days after adrenalectomy, the high urinary histamine level in rats kept on saline could be lowered by changing over to water as drinking fluid. The substitution of saline instead of water had the opposite effect on the urinary histamine excretion. Cortexone did not prevent the increase in urinary excretion of histamine in adrenalectomized rats kept on saline. Cortisone and cortisol caused an immediate increase in urinary histamine levels in adrenalectomized rats on saline with a subsequent slow reduction. Sham operation induced a small temporary increase in the urinary histamine.

Experimental toxic and allergic contact dermatitis: I. A chemical study of histamine content

1. 1. Histamine determinations at the sites of allergic dermatitis and toxic dermatitis demonstrate that excessively high levels of histamine are specifically associated with the allergic response (contact dermatitis) but not with the primary inflammatory response (toxic dermatitis). 2. 2. The histamine increase in toxic dermatitis is attributed to the number of infiltrating cells, whereas it is assumed that the excessive histamine accumulation in allergic dermatitis is due to the capacity of the infiltrating mononuclears, upon minute stimulation with antigen, to activate the histamine metabolism. The latter assumption is supported by the result of an experiment with germanin, an inhibitor of decarboxylation of l-histidine into histamine. 3. 3. The role of histamine in the allergic dermatitis seems to be that of an accelerator of the repair process rather than of a causal factor.