Antigen-induced histamine release from mast cells and basophils after hydrocortisone and disodium cromoglycate treatment.

The effect of drugs applied in the treatment of allergic diseases such as hydrocortisone and disodium cromoglycate-Intal on the release of histamine during immediate allergic response was investigated. Experiments carried out on guinea-pigs showed that after hydrocortisone administration the blood histamine level fell, whereas the histamine concentration in the lung tissue varied, depending on the time of the drug administration in relation to the antigen challenge. Disodium cromoglycate give before induction of an asthma attack in guinea-pigs lowered the histamine level in the blood and in the lung tissue homogenates. Investigations were also carried out on isolated rat mast cells and human basophils. The stabilizing effect of hydrocortisone was much weaker than that of disodium cromoglycate especially regarding mastocytes. It was found that the extent of histamine release from mastocytes and basophils depends on the concentration of the drugs applied and on the type of antigen used for induction of cell degranulation.