A simplified procedure for the fluorometric determination of histamine in rat stomach

Histamine can be determined fluorometrically by the use of o-phthaldialdehyde. Over the years, the fluorometric procedure has been made more sensitive and more specific through modifications of the reaction conditions. As a consequence the method now allows the direct measurement of histamine in crude trichloroacetic acid extracts of rat gastric mucosa and peritoneal mast cells. This conclusion is corroborated by the results of high performance liquid chromatography of the o-phthaldialdehyde-induced fluorophores in the extracts.