Studies on the Effects of Phagocytic Stimulation on Microbial Disease: Iii. The Influence of Antihistamines and 1,4-Dimethyl-7-Isopropylazulene on Experimental Tuberculosis—preliminary Experiments

Abstract

Albino mice were infected intravenously with Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis (Ravenel strain). The animals treated with the given antihistaminic substance died significantly sooner than the non-treated control animals. In a similar experiment, the deteriorating effect of antihistamine drug on experimental tuberculosis in guinea pigs was demonstrated. On the basis of previous experiments, it is supposed that the physiological stimulation of the defense mechanism by histamine has been hampered in its function. The administration of 1,4-dimethyl-7-isopropylazulene, which is believed to be a non-toxic agent simulating histamine production, prolonged the life of infected animals. When antihistamine was given in addition to 1,4-dimethyl-7-isopropylazulene, the deteriorating effect of the antihistamine was inhibited. Results are discussed in terms of whether the host–parasite relationship can be favorably influenced by means of a stimulant of the reticulo-endothelial system.

Effect of Antibacterials, Antibiotics, Enzymes and Steroids on Phagocytosis

“…Protein factors which increase phagocytosis have been isolated from normal plasma. Histamine also stimulates phagocytes, and antihistaminic factors neutralize this property (14–16). Chlorine stimulates the reticulum‐endothelial system in relation to phagocytosis (17).…”

An Attempt to Stimulate and Depress the Functional Activity of the Inflammatory Cells from Lesions Experimentally Induced byM. LepraeandM. Lepraemurium

“…On the other hand, antihistaminic drugs, besides the inhibitory effect on the acute inflammatory reaction (Halpern, 1953), de crease the fu nctional activity accomplished by the inflammatory cells (lancso, 1947 ;Kato and Gozsy, I956a ;Gozsy and Kato, 1956) . As a consequence, they enhance the rate of evolution of experimental tuber culosis (Gozsy and Kato, 1955) and inhibit the natural defence mechanism of guinea pigs against M. lepraemurium (Kato,I957).…”