Changes in norepinephrine and histamine in monkey spinal cords traumatized by weight drop and compression.

Changes in norepinephrine and histamine levels in the spinal cord of monkeys at 1/2, 2, and 4 hours after 200 g cm of contusion injury, 50 g of compression injury, and 2 hours of decompression following 4 hours of compression were studied in the traumatized and an adjacent nontraumatized segment. Norepinephrine levels were elevated in the traumatized segment at 1/2, 2, and 4 hours after contusion injury and in the adjacent nontraumatized segment at 1/2 hour. Compression of 1/2 and 2 hours caused elevation of norepinephrine in both the traumatized and nontraumatized segments. On decompressing the values of norepinephrine reverted to near normal levels. Histamine content increased in the traumatized segment at 2 and 4 hours after contusion injury and in the adjacent nontraumatized segment at 2 hours. Compression injury did not change histamine levels, but decompression caused an increase. The possible influence of simultaneous changes in norepinephrine and histamine levels on the vessels following injury is discussed.