Histamine storage and formation in canine gastric mucosa--effect of pentagastrin stimulation

Histamine storage and formation in the dog gastric mucosa were studied during basal conditions and after pentagastrin stimulation. Histamine formation (histidine decarboxylase activity), histamine content as well as the density of mast cells of the oxyntic gland mucosa were evenly distributed. Histamine content of the mucosa was significantly correlated to the density of mucosal mast cells. In the basal secretory state, histamine formation and histamine content of the oxyntic gland mucosa were of the same magnitude as in the antral mucosa. Pentagastrin stimulation induced a small but significant decrease in histamine content of the oxyntic gland mucosa and a subsequent acceleration in the rate of amine formation. Neither histamine content nor histidine decarboxylase activity of the antral mucosa was affected by pentagastrin infusion.