Acute effects of peripheral histamine administration on arginine-8-vasopressin and oxytocin levels in rat spinal cord.

Abstract

The effects of a single injection of 20 mg/kg histamine on the immunoreactive arginine-8-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) levels in the rat spinal cord were studied after peripheral (intraperitoneal) administration. Histamine induced a 60% elevation in the AVP content of the spinal cord, whereas the spinal level of OXT decreased by 36%. The findings suggest that peripheral histamine differentially affects the AVP and OXT levels in the spinal cord.