Histamine metabolism during the menstrual cycle

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Allergology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Histamine plays a role in various physiological processes, including reproductive functions.
• Estrogen is known to influence histamine metabolism and release in reproductive tissues.
• Understanding histamine's role during the menstrual cycle is crucial for reproductive health and allergy management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the urinary excretion patterns of histamine and its metabolites during the menstrual cycle.
• To explore the correlation between histamine metabolite excretion and hormonal changes (estrogen, LH).
• To compare histamine excretion in healthy, allergic, and anovulatory women.

Main Methods:

• Urinary samples were collected throughout the menstrual cycle from participants.
• Histamine, methylhistamine (MeHi), and methylimidazoleacetic acid (MeImAA) levels were quantified.
• Urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) and total estrogens were measured simultaneously.
• Data from healthy, allergic, and anovulatory women were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Healthy women exhibited individual variations in histamine and metabolite excretion.
• A potential increase in histamine metabolites at midcycle was observed, correlating with estrogen levels.
• The allergic woman displayed consistently high histamine and metabolite excretion, exacerbated pre-menstrually.
• Women with anovulatory cycles showed lower histamine metabolite levels.

Conclusions:

• Estrogen may influence histamine formation or release during the menstrual cycle.
• Histamine metabolism is altered in allergic individuals, particularly pre-menstrually.
• Anovulatory cycles are associated with reduced histamine metabolite excretion.