The effects of corticosteroids and related compounds on the histamine and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine content of rat tissues.

Daily intramuscular injections of cortisone, prednisolone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone and 2-methylfludrocortisone markedly reduced the histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine contents of the skin and small intestine of rats; there was an increase however, in the amine contents of the stomach. The sex hormones were weaker in these effects while deoxycortone and corticotrophin were inactive. When the skin was depleted of half of its 5-hydroxytryptamine by prolonged treatment with polymyxin B, the rate of recovery of this amine was retarded by the glucocorticoids. The glucocorticoid activity of a steroid and its ability to produce changes in the histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine contents of tissues are related.