G. Akerstrom et B. Lisander, ANTIHISTAMINERGIC PRETREATMENT PREVENTS TISSUE EXTRAVASATION OF ALBUMIN FROM INTRAABDOMINAL TRAUMA IN RATS, Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 38(6), 1994, pp. 569-574
Intra-abdominal surgery causes a loss of plasma into tissues within an
d around the abdomen, endangering tissue viability. Mast cells, contai
ning histamine, are abundant in the abdominal cavity. In a model of me
chanical intra-abdominal trauma, we investigated whether pretreatment
with histaminergic H-1 and H-2 receptor blockers counteracts this extr
avasation. In Wistar rats under chloralose anaesthesia, tissue clearan
ces of labelled albumin were determined by a double isotope technique.
Four groups were studied: Traumatized rats, pretreated (n=10) and non
-pretreated (n=9): non-traumatized rats; pretreated (n=10) and nonpret
reated (n=9). In the traumatized rats, given pyrilamine 10 mg kg(-1) (
H-1) plus cimetidine 25 mg kg(-1) (H-2) just before the trauma, the bl
ockers prevented the haemoconcentration from loss of plasma and the dr
op in arterial pressure during the very trauma procedure, observed amo
ng non-pretreated rats. Furthermore, they significantly decreased the
clearance of albumin in the abdominal wail and the pancreas. In the no
ntraumatized animals, the blockers lowered arterial pressure and heart
rate. In conclusion, the anti-histaminergic pretreatment decreased th
e trauma induced leakage of albumin, by mechanisms which may involve r
eadjustments of pressures and flows in capillaries as well as a preven
tion of histamine effects on capillary permeability.