Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and histamine metabolism.

In rat, histamine metabolism is altered by some nonspecific inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAO) such as iproniazid, and, to a lesser extent, tranylcypromine. Type A MAO inhibitors, such as clorgyline and MD780515, do not seem to interfere with the metabolism of histamine. Deprenyl, a type B MAO inhibitor, shows some inhibition which is, however, much lower than that observed with iproniazid. The strong effect of iproniazid is probably due to its DAO inhibiting properties.