Studies on Aortic Histamine Synthesis in Experimental Diabetes

Abstract

Aortic histamine synthesis and aortic permeability to plasma-derived bovine serum albumin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITCBSA) have been examined in rats held for 2- and 4-week periods following diagnosis of overt diabetes after subtotal pancreatectomy. Results indicate that aortic histamine synthesis, as measured through determination of aortic histidine decarboxylase (HD) activity in intima-media preparations, was increased by 15% at the end of the 4-week period of uncontrolled diabetes, while aortic albumin permeability increased 36% over corresponding control values. These results are similar to changes in aortic histamine synthesis and albumin permeability observed in a variety of other atherogenic situations, thus suggesting that increased aortic histamine synthesis may be involved in the known increased susceptibility of diabetes to atherosclerotic vascular disease.