Role of some biogenic amines in the pathomechanism of glomerulonephritis

Investigations were carried out on the patterns of adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5HIAA) in chronic serum sickness produced in rabbits by repeated subcutaneous administration of bovine albumin. In some animals serotonin or parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) were given additionally. Long-term immunization lasting 5-8 weeks caused a significant rise in NA excretion in the first 3 weeks of the experiment, and a less evident fall in the 5HT level in the blood, and 5HT, 5HIAA and A in urine. Additionally administered serotonin increased in these animals the level of 5HT in blood and urine, decreased slightly the level of A in urine, but caused no change in the significantly increased excretion of NA. These changes were associated with a rise in the intensity of inflammatory changes in the kidneys [19]. After PCPA administration of significant fall was observed of the 5HT level in blood and urine and of the NA level in urine, which was correlated with an evident attenuation of the inflammatory processes in the renal glomeruli [19]. In the light if these results that authors conclude that the investigated amines play an important role in the development of inflammatory changes in the glomeruli during chronic serum sickness.