Inhibitory effects of histamine antagonists on the skin reaction with house dust allergen, histamine and compound 48/80 in Japanese monkeys.

Using the skin of monkeys, we studied the participation of histamine receptors in the immediate skin reaction. Intradermal injection of H2 agonist produced whealing reaction to a significant degree, although this effect was not so remarkable as the effect of H1 agonist. A non-thiourea H2 antagonist showed a significant inhibitory effect on the whealing reaction to allergen, compound 48/80, and histamine. These results suggest that H2 antagonist prevented the whealing reaction by changing the vascular reaction to secreted or exogenous histamine. However, the participation of histamine receptors on dermal mast cells in the immediate skin allergic reaction is still left inconclusive.