Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Pharmacology
. 1973 Jul;48(3):426–437. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1973.tb08351.x

Acute systemic anaphylaxis in the horse

P Eyre, A J Lewis
PMCID: PMC1776115  PMID: 4764291

Abstract

1. Histamine in small doses caused systemic depressor responses in horses, whereas greater doses caused biphasic effects. All doses of 5-hydroxytrypt-amine (5-HT) were pressor and all doses of bradykinin depressor. All three active substances raised pulmonary artery pressure and lowered central venous pressure. 5-HT reduced ventilation volume. Histamine caused brief apnoea followed by hyperpnoea only.

2. Acute anaphylaxis in the horse was accompanied by a severe systemic arterial depressor response, a pressor response in the pulmonary artery and vena cava, and alternating phases of apnoea and dyspnoea.

3. During anaphylaxis, profound haemoconcentration, leucopoenia, thrombocytopoenia and hyperkalaemia were in evidence. Early during anaphylactic shock (2 to 4 min) there were profound increases in plasma histamine (five to six-fold) and plasma kinin activity (four to five-fold). Plasma 5-HT concentrations were reduced initially but recovered. Later in anaphylaxis (10 to 20 min) whole blood histamine concentration fell significantly. This coincided with the most profound period of leucopoenia.

4. No significant differences were observed in histamine concentration in any of five tissues between six ponies subjected to anaphylaxis and six controls. Mast cell numbers were not reduced but mast cells were more metachromatic (pink) and there was spilling of mast cell granules.

5. Gross pathological changes were noted mainly in the lungs which were extensively oedematous and congested. Inflamed, congested and oedematous areas in the large colon and caecum were seen, and the kidneys, spleen and liver were engorged. Alveolar emphysema, peribroncheolar oedema (containing mononuclear cells and neutrophils) were recorded. Alveoli contained erythrocytes.

Full text

PDF
426

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alexander F., Eyre P., Head K. W. Effects of histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine on sheep. J Comp Pathol. 1967 Jan;77(1):1–12. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9975(67)80001-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Alexander F., Eyre P., Head K. W., Sanford J. Effects of anaphylaxis and chemical histamine liberators in sheep. J Comp Pathol. 1970 Jan;80(1):19–30. doi: 10.1016/0021-9975(70)90027-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Andén N. E., Magnusson T. An improved method for the fluorimetric determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine in tissues. Acta Physiol Scand. 1967 Jan-Feb;69(1):87–94. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1967.tb03493.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Boreham P. F. Immune reactions and kinin formation in chronic trypanosomiasis. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1968 Mar;32(3):493–504. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1968.tb00450.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. CODE C. F., MITCHELL R. G. Histamine, eosinophils and basophils in the blood. J Physiol. 1957 May 23;136(3):449–468. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1957.sp005773. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. COOK W. R., ROSSDALE P. D. RESPIRATORY DISTRESS IN SOME DISEASES OF MAN AND ANIMALS. THE SYNDROME OF 'BROKEN WIND' IN THE HORSE. Proc R Soc Med. 1963 Nov;56:972–977. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Eyre P. Anaphylactic (skin-sensitising) antibodies in the horse. Vet Rec. 1972 Jan 8;90(2):36–37. doi: 10.1136/vr.90.2.36. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Eyre P. Equine pulmonary emphysema: a bronchopulmonary mould allergy. Vet Rec. 1972 Aug 5;91(6):134–140. doi: 10.1136/vr.91.6.134. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Eyre P., Lewis A. J. Production of kinins in bovine anaphylactic shock. Br J Pharmacol. 1972 Feb;44(2):311–313. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1972.tb07269.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Eyre P., Lewis A. J., Wells P. W. Acute systemic anaphylaxis in the calf. Br J Pharmacol. 1973 Mar;47(3):504–516. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1973.tb08182.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Greaves M. W., Mongar J. L. The histamine content of rabbit leucocytes and its release during in vitro anaphylaxis. Immunology. 1968 Nov;15(5):733–742. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Itkin I. H. Bronchial hypersensitivity to mecholyl and histamine in asthma subjects. J Allergy. 1967 Oct;40(4):245–256. doi: 10.1016/0021-8707(67)90087-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kahlson G., Rosengren E. New approaches to the physiology of histamine. Physiol Rev. 1968 Jan;48(1):155–196. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1968.48.1.155. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. LECOMTE J. Sur la thrombopénie du choc anaphylactique du lapin. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1956;150(3):593–595. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lewis A. J., Eyre P. Some cardiorespiratory effects of histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and compound 48-80 in the calf. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1972 Jun;50(6):545–553. doi: 10.1139/y72-082. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. McGavin M. D., Gronwall R. R., Mia A. S. Pathologic changes in experimental equine anaphylaxis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1972 Jun 15;160(12):1632–1636. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. NOAH J. W., BRAND A. A fluorometric method to determine levels of histamine in human plasma. J Allergy. 1961 May-Jun;32:236–240. doi: 10.1016/0021-8707(61)90053-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Piper P. J., Collier H. O. Release of catecholamines in the guinea-pig by substances involved in anaphylaxis. Nature. 1967 Feb 25;213(5078):838–840. doi: 10.1038/213838a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Porter J. F., Mitchell R. G. Distribution of histamine in human blood. Physiol Rev. 1972 Apr;52(2):361–381. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1972.52.2.361. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. RILEY J. F. The relationship of the tissue mast cells to the blood vessels in the rat. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1953 Apr;65(2):461–469. doi: 10.1002/path.1700650218. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. ROCHA e SILVA M. The role played by leucocytes and platelets in anaphylactic and peptone shock. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1950 Apr 28;50(9):1045–1067. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1950.tb39902.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. SHORE P. A., BURKHALTER A., COHN V. H., Jr A method for the fluorometric assay of histamine in tissues. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1959 Nov;127:182–186. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Woodruff M. F. Antilymphocytic serum. Antibiot Chemother. 1969;15:234–249. doi: 10.1159/000386784. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of The British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES