Alterations in histamine and collagen induced in chick embryos by aminoguanidine and 48/80

The effects of aminoguanidine (a histamine inhibitor) and 48/80 (a histamine liberator) on the levels of histamine, soluble collagen fraction and total collagen in the chick embryos were studied. Histamine content in bones (tibia and femur) and skin markedly increased in the embryos treated with aminoguanidine. Aminoguanidine treatment was followed by a decrease of total collagen and an increase of soluble collagen fraction both in bones and skin. 48/80 did not change the histamine level in the bones but decreased that in the skin. 48/80 administration resulted in an augmentation of the total collagen content in the skin. Both in the skin and bones soluble collagen fraction was found to be lower in 48/80 treated embryos.