H. J. Reimann

A phylogenetic study on the occurrence and distribution of histamine in the gastro-intestinal tract and other tissues of man and various animals

Abstract Using a specific fluorimetric and biological method, the occurrence and distribution of histamine was investigated in man, various mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, bony and cartilaginous fishes, lancelets, tunicates, echinoderms, molluscs, and crustaceans. The amine was identified by the fluorescence spectrum, by specific antihistaminics in the bioassay, by the comparison of the fluorimetric histamine values following three different isolation procedures, and in some tissues also by thin-layer chromatography. Histamine was found in all chordates in considerable concentrations with the exception of the stomachless carp. The distribution of histamine in the body, however, varied largely from species to species. Only the gastric mucosa of all vertebratesinvestigated was relatively rich in histamine. The amine was nearly uniformly distributed in amphibians and fishes, in which only the stomach and partly the intestinum showed higher histamine concentrations than all the numerous other tissues investigated. The distribution of histamine, however, in mammals, birds, and reptiles showed great variations from tissue.to tissue. Organs free from histamine were first found in fishes going backward in the phylogeny. Because of the great variabilities in the distribution of histamine in the body of numerous species which were studied in this investigation, only one hypothesis can be developed with respect to a common physiological significance of histamine: there is a selective accumulation of histamine in the gastric mucosa of all chordates possessing acid-secreting cells and a low concentration of histamine in the gastro-intestinal tract of stomachless fishes. The gastric acid secretion is stimulated by histamine in all vertebrates investigated, whereas in many fishes histamine has no effects on the circulation or on smooth muscles of the gastro-intestinal tract or on the uterus. Thus, stored histamine probably has a specific function in the gastric mucosa, but not a general function, such as the regulation of ubiquitous metabolic processes or the regulation of microcirculation.

Elevated plasma histamine concentrations in surgery: causes and clinical significance

SummaryHistamine concentrations in plasma, whole blood and various tissues of human subjects, monkeys, pigs and dogs were determined by fluorometric methods before, during and after surgical operations. Following intraabdominal surgery in 6 of 22 patients elevated plasma histamine levels were found several hours after the end of operation. Some of the causes of histamine release in surgery were found to be premedication by atropine, intravenously administered anaesthetics, infusion of plasma substitutes and manipulation on the gut. Acute blood losses were without effect on the plasma histamine levels. Clinical symptoms and pathophysiological reactions, such as tachycardia, hypotension, increased gastric secretion and anaphylactoid reactions could be related to the release of histamine in some circumstances.ZusammenfassungHistaminkonzentrationen in Plasma, Vollblut und verschiedenen Geweben von Mensch. Affe, Schwein und Hund wurden vor, während und nach Operationen mit fluorometrischen Methoden gemessen. nach intraabdominellen eingriffen wurden bei 6 von 22 Patienten erhöhte Plasmahistaminspiegel noch Stunden nach der Operation gefunden.Als Ursachen der Histaminfreisetzung bei Operationen wurden nachgewiesen: Prämedikation durch Atropin, Anästhesieeinleitung mit intravenös verabreichten Kurznarkotika, Infusion von Plasmasubstituten und Manipulationen am Darm. Akuter Blutverlust war ohne Einfluß auf die Plasmahistaminspiegel. Klinische Symptome und pathophysiologische Reaktionen, wie Tachykardie, arterielle Hypotension, erhöhte Magensekretion und anaphylaktoide Reaktionen konnten auf Histaminfreisetzung unter bestimmten Umständen zurückgeführt werden.

Metabolism and function of gastric histamine in health and disease

Histamine is not uniformly distributed in the human and animal organisms, but occurs in high concentrations in the gastric mucosa. The enzymes responsible for its metabolism-histidine decarboxylase, histamine N-methyltransferase and diamine oxidase-seem to be less predominantly localized in the stomach. Considerable formation in the gastric mucosa. This was a controversial subject that only was solved recently. Histamine inactivation by histamine methyltransferase occurs in man in the fundic gastric mucosa that has reasonable enzymic activity. However, liver, spleen and intestine show much higher activities indicating less specificity of histamine catabolism in the gastric mucosa. Finally, diamine oxidase activity was once thought to be absent in the corpus mucosa, but more recently, moderate activities of this enzyme were found in several species, including man. Thus, histamine metabolism in the gastric mucosa is by no means unique in mammalian tissues, but the presence of these enzymes may be regarded as an indicator of its physiological function. To some extent enzymic activities involved in histamine formation and inactivation are regulated in the process of acid secretion. Histidine decarboxylase and histamine N-methyltransferase activities are enhanced by gastrin, but are not influenced by vagal stimulation. Hitherto, only bistamine methylation was found to be diminished in duodenal ulcer disease. Vagotomy and histamine H2-receptor antagonists modulate histamine catabolism by histamine methyl-transferase. The implication of these findings for treatment of duodenal ulcer are discussed.

Antihistaminika zur Behandlung der Steinkolik — Eine prospektive randomisierte klinische Studie

Histamin kontrahiert den Ureter dosisabhangig, Histamin-HrAntagonisten schwachen kompetitiv die Ureterkontraktionen [1]. Wird nach Unterbindung der Ureter Histamin in die Arteria renalis appliziert, steigt der bereits erhohte Druck im gestauten Nierenbecken noch weiter an, umgekehrt wird er durch Histamin-H1- und vor allem H2-Rezeptorantagonisten gesenkt [3]. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde daher gepruft, ob Steinkoliken durch Antihistaminika unterbrochen und ein Steinabgang erleichtert werden kann.

Änderungen von Blut-Histaminspiegel während allogener Lebertransplantation am Schwein

ZusammenfassungDie nach Revascularisation eines allogenen Lebertransplantates auftretenden Schocksymptome sind eine Folge von Histaminfreisetzung aus Leber und Dünndarm bei fehlender Abbaufähigkeit des ischämisch geschädigten Transplantates. Die Kenntnis dieser Tatsache und Einleitung entsprechender Maßnahmen ist von entscheidender Bedeutung für den Erfolg einer Lebertransplantation am Schwein.