EFFECT OF HISTAMINE ON LECITHIN CONTENT IN BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE FLUID OF RAT

Deficiency of surfactant in alveoli reads to increased resistance to b reathing. Histamine is a mediator in allergic respiratory diseases. Th ough the bronchoconstrictor effect of histamine is well recognised, hi stamine may have additional actions that contribute to pathogenesis in these diseases. The present study aimed to observe the effect of hist amine on lecithin, a major component of alveolar surfactant. Lecithin content in broncho-alveolar ravage (BAL) fluid of healthy adult male r ats was estimated by enzymatic method using Boehringer-Mannheim kits. Lecithin content in these control animals was compared with that in th ree groups of healthy adult male rats following subcutaneous administr ation of 0.06 mg of histamine diphosphate at 10 minutes, 30 minutes an d 60 minutes intervals, respectively. A significant reduction in lecit hin levels in BAL fluid was observed up to one hour after administrati on of histamine. The results indicate a possible additional action of histamine in the pathogenesis of allergic respiratory diseases.