Role of histamine in the aetiology of byssinosis. II. Lung histamine concentrations in guinea pigs chronically exposed to cotton and flax dusts

• Published in: British Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 209 - 213
• Main Authors: Noweir, M H, Abdel-Kader, H M, Makar, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.05.1984; British Medical Association; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Byssinosis; Byssinosis - etiology; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Enzyme activity; Enzymes; Gossypium - toxicity; Guanidines - pharmacology; Guinea Pigs; Histamine - metabolism; Histamine release; Histamines; human health and safety; Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.); Liver; Lung - enzymology; Lung - metabolism; Lungs; Male; Medical sciences; medicine; Metabolism; nonfood plant products; Public health; Textile Industry; Toxicology; Byssinosis; Respiratory disease; Lung; Rodentia; Cotton; Metabolism; Inhalation; Histamine; Vertebrata; Chronic; Experimental disease; Dust; Mammalia; Guinea pig; Etiology; Animal; Ratio; Flax
• ISSN: 0007-1072; 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.41.2.209

Data presented in this study support the finding that cotton and flax dusts contain agents which potentiate the formation or accumulation of histamine or both in the lungs of guinea pigs exposed to dust, and that such agents are present at much higher levels in cotton dust than in flax dust. The potentiating effect may be through the recruitment of mast cells into the lung. Both cotton and flax dusts contain methylating enzyme inhibitory agents, whereas cotton dust also contains agents that inhibit histaminase activity; flax dust contains agents potentiating histamine activity. These agents working together result in the accumulation or depletion of histamine observed in the different groups of animals exposed to either cotton or flax dust in this study.