Studies on Aortic Histamine Synthesis in Experimental Diabetes

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Abstract
Aortic histamine synthesis and aortic permeability to plasma-derived bovine serum albumin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate were examined in rats held for 2 and 4 wk periods following diagnosis of overt diabetes after subtotal pancreatectomy. Aortic histamine synthesis, as measured through determination of aortic histidine decarboxylase (HD) activity in intima-media preparations, was increased by 15% at the end of the 4 wk period of uncontrolled diabetes, while aortic albumin permeability increased 36% over corresponding control values. These results are similar to changes in aortic histamine synthesis and albumin permeability observed in a variety of other atherogenic situations, thus suggesting that increased aortic histamine synthesis may be involved in the known increased susceptibility of diabetics to atherosclerotic vascular disease.