Histamine levels in tissues of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice.

Histamine levels of several organs from mice chronically infected with a myotropic strain of Trypanosoma cruzi were determined by bioassay. An increase in histamine content was observed in stomach, small intestine, colon, heart and skeletal muscle, when compared with noninfected weight and age-matched mice. These results suggest that mast cells, the main storage site of peripheral histamine, can play a role in the inflammatory and/or immunologic components of experimental trypanosomiasis.