The effects of H 1 and H 2 receptor antagonism on the response of monkey skin to intradermal histamine, reverse-type anaphylaxis, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 63; no. 6; pp. 376 - 382
• Main Authors: Hutchcroft, B.J., Moore, Elizabeth G., Orange, R.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mosby, Inc 1979
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(79)90209-4

The effects of H 1 and H 2 receptor antagonists on models of allergic reactions in monkey skin have been studied. Intradermal histamine is markedly inhibited by H 1 receptor antagonists but not by H 2 receptor antagonists in the doses used. However, the combination of both receptor antagonists gives greater inhibition than that seen with H 1 receptor blockade alone. Reverse-type anaphylaxis is also markedly inhibited by H 1 but not H 2 receptor antagonists. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) is likewise inhibited by H 1 receptor antagonism, but not by H 2 receptor antagonism. The combination of the two inhibitors leads to a complete inhibition of this PCA response. The data suggest that the addition of an H 2 receptor antagonist may potentiate the effect of H 1 blockade alone.