Histamine leukocytosis. I. Effect of histamine on peripheral leukocyte counts.

The effect of chronic administration of histamine on the number of cells in peripheral blood of dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs was tested by single and consecutive intramuscular injections of histamine in a beeswax-sesame oil mixture. Leukocytosis due to increased numbers of neutrophils occurred in all animals after single injections of histamine in beeswax, although erythrocytes and hematocrit values were unaffected in all species. When injection of histamine was repeated on consecutive days, the extent of leukocytosis subsided in some cases; however, the simultaneous administration of aminoguanidine restored leukocytosis. Single or daily injections of the beeswax-sesame oil mixture without histamine had none of these effects in any animals tested. Although simultaneous injections of histamine and H1 receptor antagonists did not alter histamine effects, the combined administrations of histamine and H2 receptor blocking agents suppressed histamine-induced leukocytosis.