Rabbit aortic endothelial and medial histamine synthesis following short-term cholesterol feeding

Endothelial cells from thoracic aortas of pair-fed male Dutch belted rabbits maintained on a 0.5% cholesterol diet for 2 weeks were isolated by inverted lumenal surface trypsin washing. Mean endothelial histamine-forming capacities (HFC) of control and experimental groups were 718 ± 84 and 982 ± 109 dpm/mgm protein, respectively, while corresponding mean medial HFCs were 106 ± 10 and 93 ± 3 dpm/mgm protein. Determination of total serum cholesterol and histological examination of aortas indicate the experimental rabbits were in a hypercholesteremic, preatherosclerotic state. These results indicate that an atherogenic stress promotes increased endothelial histamine synthesis.