Is histamine involved in ethanol-induced inflammation?

The participation of histamine in ethanol-induced inflammation has been estimated in rats. Administration of ethanol caused an increase in the total number of blood leukocytes and changed the composition of the leukocyte population. The histamine receptor antagonists mepyramine and cimetidine did not affect the changes in cellular composition. Pretreatment with the anti-allergic drug Tritoqualine had no effect on the total number of leukocytes and PMN-leukocytes. PMN-leukocytes from ethanol treated rats had a greater capacity to activate latent collagenase. This ability was partially inhibited by the histamine receptor antagonists mepyramine and cimetidine, particularly in combination. Pretreatment with Tritoqualine apparently protected the latent collagenase against ethanol activation. Thus we conclude that histamine is possibly implicated in the process of generating activity for latent collagenase.