In histamine

R. Lipp and co-workers, in H. Timmerman and H. van der Goot, eds.. New Perspectives in Histamine Research, Birkh Auser Vedag, Basel, 1991, p. 227. 

FIGURE 11 Duration of bronchodilator activity in an animal model Anesthesized guinea pigs received 1 ymol/kg of terbutaline, free or in liposomes, via intracheal instillation at time zei o. Bronchodilator activity was measured as the reduction in histamine-induced airway resistance. Histamine (10 yg/kg) was administered i.v. prior to each resistance measurement, o saline (n = 3) free drug (n = 3) a liposomal drug (n = 4). (Courtesy of Liposome Technology, Inc., Menlo Park, California.)... 

Orr, E. Quay, W. B. (1975). Hypothalamic 24-hour rhythms in histamine, histidine, decarboxylase and histamine-N-methyltransferase. Endocrinology 96, 941-5. 

Hough, L.B., Goldschmidt, R. C., Glick, S. D. and Padawer, J. Mast cells in rat brain characterization, localization, and histamine content. In C. R. Ganellin and J. C. Schwartz (eds), Frontiers in Histamine Research A Tribute to Heinz Schild. Advances in the biosciences. New York Pergamon Press, 1985, pp. 131-140. 

Nishibori, M., Oishi, R., Itoh, Y. and Saeki, K. Morphine-induced changes in histamine dynamics in mouse brain. /. Neurochem. 45 719-724,1985. 

The role of saurine (implieated in histamine poisoning in Japan) as a compound able to act synergistically with histamine was reviewed by Arnold and Brown (1978), but it was later concluded that the compound in question was in fact histamine. 

The effect of temperature on histamine formation has been the subject of many studies (Table 6.5). Different studies reported 100-fold variations in histamine concentrations in skipjack tuna allowed to spoil under similar conditions. Although the information in Table 6.5 contains substantial variation, it is obvious that longer storage times and higher temperatures seem to induce histamine production. Control of biogenic amine production by low temperatures (for example 0°C) is consistently observed. 

The lung is relatively rich in histamine-containing mast cells, so it is not surprising that a number of investigators have assessed the role of histamine in the pulmonary toxicity observed after ozone exposure. 

Among the non-scombroid fish, mahi-mahi is the most common fish implicated in histamine poisoning in the U.S. Other non-scombroid fish that have been involved in outbreaks of histamine poisoning are sardines, pilchards, anchovies, herring, black marlin, and kahawai. 

Further experiments will be necessary with fish incriminated in histamine poisoning outbreaks to confirm the presence and identity of any potentiators of histamine toxicity. 

Since the majority of an oral dose of histamine is excreted as various histamine metabolites, the metabolism of histamine probably serves as a detoxification mechanism. As noted earlier, the small intestine and liver are particularly active in histamine metabolism and would be expected to protect against the toxicity of orally administered histamine. 

The threshold toxic dose for histamine in foods is not precisely known. Estimates are difficult to acquire from outbreaks of histamine poisoning because of the variability in histamine content in the fish (1,65). Simidu and Hibiki ( ) estimated the threshold toxic dose for histamine in fish to be approximately 60 mg/100 g, but their methods were not terribly precise. Based on experience acquired in the investigation of hundreds of scombroid poisoning incidents, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently established 50 mg/100 g as the hazard action level for histamine in tuna. They have not yet established regulatory limits for histamine in other fish or cheese. 

Burkhalter, A. Frick, 0. L. In Histamine, Serotonin, and the Ergot Alkaloids Katzung, B. G., Ed. BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Lange Medical Publications Los Altos, Calif., 1982 p. 169-85. 

Management of pruritus caused by allergic conditions such as chronic urticaria, atopic and contact dermatoses and in histamine-mediated pruritus. 

Aetinidine (9a) has been identified as an anal gland product of three species of dolichoderine ants in the genera Conomyrma and Iridomyrmex (Table I). The venoms of ants of the Myrmecia species are rich in histamine (136) (Table VIII), which can act as a defensive substance, together with hemolytic, smooth-muscle-stimulating, and histamine-releasing components. 

Histamine may be released from mast cells by mechanisms that do not require prior sensitization of the immune system. Drugs, high-molecular-weight proteins, venoms, and other substances that damage or disrupt cell membranes can induce the release of histamine. Any thermal or mechanical stress of sufficient intensity also will result in histamine release. Cytotoxic compounds, may release histamine as the result of disruption of cell membranes. 

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