Studies on Histamine Sensitivity and Anaphylactic Response. The Effect of Thyroid Extract

Conclusions

In our experiments, administration of thyroid extract to normal guinea pigs greatly enhanced their sensitivity to histamine shock. We believe that the enhanced sensitivity to histamine which follows administration of thyroid extract explains the enhanced anaphylactic response observed after administration of this hormone.

Administration of thyroid extract to normal guinea pigs led to marked decrease of the ascorbic acid content of the adrenals. Depletion of the ascorbic acid stores of the adrenals of guinea pigs leads to depletion of their cholesterol and cortin contents. We suggest that the enhanced sensitivity to histamine observed in our guinea pigs is due to depletion of the cortin content of their adrenals.