Collagen and glycosaminoglycans in the skin of newborn rats and their mothers treated with exogenous histamine or 48/80.

The effects of exogenous histamine (Hi) and endogenous Hi (brought about by treatment with 48/80*] on the levels of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in the skin of both newborns and their mothers were studied. Exogenous Hi injected into the mothers somewhat increased Hi level in the skin of the newborns and did not change the levels of collagen and GAG. 48/80 administered to the mothers resulted in a decrease of Hi in their skin and elevated it in skin of the newborns. The levels of collagen and GAG in the skin of the mothers were lower after 48/80 than in the control. However, 48/80 injected into the mothers resulted in an increase of collagen and GAG in skin of the newborns.