Effect of repeated cold stress on mouse stomach histidine decarboxylase

The effect of repeated cold stress (RCS) on both mRNA level and enzyme activity of stomach histidine decarboxylase (HDC) was studied in ddY mice. Following 1-day treatment of RCS, stomach HDC activity, but not its mRNA level, increased two fold. Following 3-day treatment of RCS, which is the essential period for the induction of hyperalgesia in mice, HDC mRNA level and enzyme activity increased in the stomach. After cessation of RCS treatment, HDC mRNA level decreased and reached the level of non-RCS treated mice, but HDC activity did not. The stomach from the 1-day RCS-treated mouse contained proteolytic activity, which converts the in vitro-translated 74 kD HDC species into the 53 kD HDC species. These data demonstrate that RCS-treated mouse stomach induces both the de novo synthesis of the 74 kD HDC species and its proteolytic cleavage to 53 kD HDC species.