The inhibition of mast cell damage and histamine release in anaphylaxis by pyridine and diphosphopyridine nucleotidase inhibitors. Comparison with compound 48/80.

In rats and guinea-pigs both mast cell damage and histamine release in anaphylaxis were inhibited by pyridine, nicotinamide, diethylnicotinamide, nicotinic acid, isonicotinic acid and isonicotinic acid hydrazide, which are known to be inhibitors of diphosphopyridine nucleotidases. On the other hand these compounds potentiated histamine release and mast cell damage by compound 48/80 in guinea-pigs although inhibiting the same phenomena in rats. The relationship of these findings with the mechanism of histamine liberation in anaphylaxis is discussed.