Effect of Reserpine on Gastric Histamine in Rats

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Abstract
Because monoamine oxidase inhibitors enhance the stimulating effects of reserpine on gastric secretion, the possibility was considered that the action of reserpine on the stomach may be due to endogenous histamine. It is known that monoamine oxidase inhibitors potentiate the effects of histamine liberators. The action of reserpine on endogenous histamine of stomachs in rats, was studied and compared to the effect of a known histamine liberator, compound 48/80 [p-methoxy-phenethylemethylamine]. Treatment of rats with reserpine resulted in a significant decrease of gastric histamine and in an increase of plasma histamine. In this respect reserpine behaves as a releaser of endogenous histamine. It is possible, therefore, that post-reserpine gastric secretion is due to the endogenous histamine released by reserpine.