Preliminary study of the pathogenetic mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension due to hypoxia. the role of histamine
Violini, R.; Ricciardelli, B.; Trimarco, A.; Violini, M.; Ramacci, C.A.
Minerva Medica 71(43): 3157-3164
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-4806 PMID: 7465096 Document Number: 160406
It has long been supposed that histamine plays an intemediary rôle in pulmonary hypertension due to hypoxia, though no firm evidence has been collected. Lung and aortic pressure and the blood histamine content in the aorta, pulmonary artery, vena cava inferior, and suprahepatic veins were therefore measured in anaesthetised dogs breathing ambient air, and after 5' administration of a gas mixture containing 8% O2. Lung pressure rose significantly and aortic pressure changed only slightly. Histamine values, however, rose significantly in the pulmonary artery and were unchanged in the aorta after the hypoxic stimulus. In addition, concentrations were higher in the vena cava and unchanged in the suprahepatic veins. These results indicate that histamine is released from skeletal muscle and electively taken up by lung tissue during hypoxia. Its rôle is certainly important, but further elucidation must await the performance of other studies using drugs that selectively block its release from the muscle district.