HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bally, L. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bally, L. H.

Anaphylaxis

IX. Studies on Histamine Reactions in Rabbits¹

From the Department of Bacteriology, University of Kansas, Lawrence

Abstract

Although the literature on the effects of histamine is quite extensive it deals mostly with observations made upon dogs and cats, while observations upon reactions produced in the rabbit are particularly conspicuous by their absence. Possibly this is due to one of the peculiar anomalies of histamine in failing to produce an immediate depressor effect in rodents as it does in carnivora. This has been quite puzzling since histamine is known to be a strong stimulant of plain muscle, yet produces a pronounced fall in blood pressure of carnivora, apparently due to capillary dilation. In the rabbit the exact opposite reaction occurs—a rise in blood pressure, presumably due to vasoconstriction as one would expect.

Dale and Richards (1) point out that vasodilator effects of histamine are purely peripheral effects upon the blood vessels, independent of any nervous connection. They conclude that the vasodilation is due to the relaxation of the tone of the capillaries since histamine has a constrictor effect upon the arteries.

Footnotes

¹ Submitted to the Department of Bacteriology and the Faculty of the Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.