Inhibition of granulation tissue growth by histamine

Granulomas were induced in rats by subcutaneous implantation of formalin-soaked filter-paper disks. Daily subcutaneous injection of histamine at doses of two times 0.05 mg/kg and above inhibited the growth of granulation tissue as measured by a marked decrease in the dry-defatted granuloma weight and of the hydroxyproline and hexosamine content. Histological observations of granulation tissue indicated that histamine inhibited the proliferation of fibroblasts and the formation of capillaries. Inhibitory effects were also observed with the histamine releaser, sinomenine, and the histaminase inhibitor, aminoguanidine. These histamine effects seem not to be mediated by glucocorticoid release, since an effective dose level of histamine produced no change in growth or thymus weight. Prednisolone was less potent than histamine in inhibiting Prednisolone was ineffective at the dose tested. Subcutaneous injection of the H2-receptor antagonist, burimamide, blocked these histamine effects and also of sinomeinine and aminoguanidine. The H1-receptor antagonist, mepyramine, did not block these histamine effects. Burimamide alone enhanced the growth of granuloma. These results indicate that granulation-tissue growth in inflammation is affected by the inhibitory effect of endogenous histamine acting through H2-receptors.