Histamine and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in ischemic myocardium of the guinea-pig

Histamine has been proved to be released during myocardial infarction and ischemic arrhythmias in dogs. The aim of the present experiments was to evaluate if ischemia and reperfusion modify histamine and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in isolated guinea-pig heart. The results obtained show a steady increase of LDH release both in the ischemic and reperfusion phases. The release of histamine was reduced during the ischemic phase and increased significantly during reperfusion. A significant diminution of mast cell granule metachromasia was observed in the right auricles at the end of the reperfusion period. D-mannitol and reduced glutathione (GSH) modified the kinetics of histamine and LDH release. Cimetidine was able to decrease significantly the release of histamine during the ischemic and reperfusion phases and also reduced the release of LDH; triprolidine was completely ineffective. The results suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals may be involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial dysfunction after ischemia and reperfusion.