• 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 29  (3) , 436-441
Abstract
Ethacrynic acid, a known inhibitor of Na+-K+ and Mg2+-activated ATPases, effectively inhibits histamine release from antigen challenged human basophils in vitro. Ouabain, an inhibitor specific for Na+-K+-activated ATPases, shows no effect upon the quantity of histamine released from the antigen-challenged basophils. Ethacrynic acid also effectively inhibits Ca2+-ionophore A23187-induced release, implying it inhibits the Ca2+-dependent secretory stage of the histamine-release process. Inhibition of ATPases and histamine release by ethacrynic acid both require the presence of the olefinic bond in the ethacrynic-acid molecule. Possible utilization of analogs of ethacrynic acid as antiallergic drugs and as a device to investigate the ATPase system of histamine-releasing cells is suggested.