Adrenal Medullary Hormones and Sensitization of Mice to Histamine by the Histamine sensitizing Factor of Bordetella pertussis

Abstract

Bordetella pertussis cells, or extracts from them, increase the sensitivity of mice to histamine, serotonin, toxic materials, various stresses and anaphylaxis. This profound effect, observed to different degrees in various strains of mice, is almost entirely duplicated by adrenal-ectomy^1,2. For this reason, it has long been suspected that the mode of action of B. pertussis involves the adrenal glands either directly or indirectly^1,2. B. pertussis-treated mice can be protected from histamine death by injection of cortisone or hydrocortisone, but treatment with epinephrine 30 min before histamine challenge was not effective. Consequently, it has been assumed that the steroid hormones were the significant factor in the histamine sensitization phenomenon^1,2. In adrenal-ectomized mice, it has been demonstrated that both epinephrine and steroids protect mice from histamine death³. It should be stressed that no evidence has been uncovered to show that the histamine-sensitizing factor (HSF) extracted from B. pertussis cells directly affects the adrenal glands. No histological abnormalities or changes in the amount of steroids produced have been observed². To account for this lack of direct effect on the adrenal gland, it was proposed that the B. pertussis effect might be due to an indirect effect at a site removed from the adrenal glands, such as blocking the site of action of an important adrenal hormone.