Abstract
Summary
Two triglyceride emulsions prepared for intravenous use in man have been examined for ability to release histamine from tissue mast cells in rat peritoneal cavity. The emulsions themselves had no direct action upon smooth muscle. Intraperitoneal injection of these materials caused rupture of the mast cells. The fluid recovered from the peritoneal cavity produced bronchiolar constriction in the pithed guinea pig and contraction of guinea pig ileum in vitro, indicating a significant histamine content. It is suggested that histamine release may play an important role in development of the occasional “anaphyloctoid” response following intravenous infusion of triglyceride emulsions in patients.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.