Role of histamine in posttraumatic spinal cord hyperemia and the luxury perfusion syndrome

Abstract

The effect of pretreatment of rhesus monkeys with antihistamines was studied on hyperemia observed in the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord after severe experimental spinal cord trauma. After administration of chlorpheniramine and metiamide, the spinal cords were traumatized with a 600 g-cm injury. Blood flow in the lateral funiculus at the injury site was then determined hourly for 6 h. The blood flow at this site remained in the normal range at all times in all animals. Neither a hyperemia nor an ischemia could be demonstrated. Ischemia does not exist in the lateral funiculus after severe experimental spinal cord trauma. This explains the previous observation of hyperemia as a histamine-related phenomenon, easily blocked by the administration of chlorpheniramine and metiamide, potent antihistamines which together block both the H1 and H2 receptor sites.