Effect of Histamine on Electrocardiograms and Serum Electrolytes of Intact, Cortisone-Treated and Adrenalectomized Hamsters

Abstract

Following toxic doses of histamine in golden hamsters there was progressively increasing bradycardia in those which died and a compensatory tachycardia in survivors. The T wave of the EKG increased, especially in those animals which succumbed, and decreased as terminus approached. Except for terminal lowering there were no striking changes in the P wave. Other changes were occasional Q waves, lowered R waves and deeper S waves, and impaired conduction. Pretreatment of intact hamsters with 12 daily doses of cortisone acetate lowered both serum sodium and potassium. Hyponatremia and hyperpotassemia were present terminally in intact hamsters dying from histamine intoxication. Pretreatment with cortisone tended to alleviate these changes but did not entirely prevent the terminal rise in serum potassium. Adrenalectomized hamsters exhibited hyponatremia and hyperpotassemia, both becoming greater as death approached. Maintenance therapy with cortisone did not restore a normal serum sodium but did reduce serum potassium to normal or below. Adrenalectomized hamsters poisoned by small doses of histamine had EKG and serum electrolyte changes similar to those dying from adrenal insufficiency. Replacement therapy prevented these changes.