Release of C¹⁴-Histamine From Stomach and Intestine on Feeding

¹ From the Department of Clinical Science, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago and the Rheumatic Fever Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

Twenty-four male rats were divided into two groups of equal body weight. Food was withdrawn for approximately 16 hours when a subcutaneous injection of C¹⁴-2-l-histidine was made. Forty-eight hours after the withdrawal of food one group was fed for 24 hours and decapitated, the other group was fasted for the entire 72 hours and decapitated. The C¹⁴-histamine in the entire glandular stomach and the entire small intestine was decreased by feeding to the extent of 52% and 30%, respectively. Although some loss may have occurred as a result of desquamation, it is concluded that most of the loss of C¹⁴ histamine from the stomach and intestinal mucosa on feeding was due to its release into the blood stream.