Ammonium and sulfate ion release of histamine from lung fragments

In vitro studies with guinea pig lung fragments incubated with 10- to 200-mM concentrations of ammonium ion demonstrated the release of substanial quantities of histamine. Of the anions tested with ammonium ion, sulfate was the most potent, while nitrate and acetate ions were of intermediate potency and chloride was less potent. An osmotic effect is unlikely since equal concentrations of sodium chloride failed to release histamine. Isoproterenol, known to decrease anaphylactic histamine release, and acetycholine, known to increase histamine release, had no effect on the ammonium sulfate-mediated release of histamine. N-6 2'-O-Dibutyryladenosine 3',5' monophosphate (dibutyryl c-AMP) was also ineffective. These studies suggest that the inhalation irritation associated with certain sulfate and other salts, may be a function of their ability to release histamine in the presence of amonium ion.