Measurement of plasma histamine: description of an improved method and normal values

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-6749(82)90233-0· OSTI ID:6711078

Dyer, J; Warren, K; Merlin, S; Metcalfe, D D; Kaliner, M

The single isotopic-enzymatic assay of histamine was modified to increase its sensitivity and to facilitate measurement of plasma histamine levels. The modification involved extracting /sup 3/H-1-methylhistamine (generated by the enzyme N-methyltransferase acting on histamine in the presence of S-(methyl-/sup 3/H)-adenosyl-L-methionine) into chloroform and isolating the /sup 3/H-1-methylhistamine by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The TLC was developed in acetone:ammonium hydroxide (95:10), and the methylhistamine spot (Rf . 0.50) was identified with an o-phthalaldehyde spray, scraped from the plate, and assayed in a scintillation counter. The assay in plasma demonstrated a linear relationship from 200 to 5000 pg histamine/ml. Plasma always had higher readings than buffer, and dialysis of plasma returned these values to the same level as buffer, suggesting that the baseline elevations might be attributable to histamine. However, all histamine standard curves were run in dialyzed plasma to negate any additional influences plasma might exert on the assay. The arithmetic mean (+/- SEM) in normal plasma histamine was 318.4 +/- 25 pg/ml (n . 51), and the geometric mean was 280 +/- 35 pg/ml. Plasma histamine was significantly elevated by infusion of histamine at 0.05 to 1.0 micrograms/kg/min or by cold immersion of the hand of a cold-urticaria patient. Therefore this modified isotopic-enzymatic assay of histamine is extremely sensitive, capable of measuring fluctuations in plasma histamine levels within the normal range, and potentially useful in analysis of the role histamine plays in human physiology.

• Research Organization: Allergic Disease Section, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 6711078
• Journal Information: J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.; (United States) Vol. 70:2; ISSN JACIB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AMINES
AZOLES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD PLASMA
BODY FLUIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HISTAMINE
IMIDAZOLES
IMMUNE REACTIONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSIOLOGY
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS