Histamine-induced microvascular leakage in pial venules: differences between the SJL/J and BALB/c inbred strains of mice. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The actions of histamine on pial venule leaky site formation were measured intravitally in two inbred strains of mice (BALB/c and SJL/J). Pial venules were visualized using a cranial window microscopy technique, and microvascular leaky site formation was assessed visually using a fluorescein-dextran indicator. SJL/J mice were found to be sensitive to histamine-induced leakage, whereas the BALB/c strain was refractory. Exposure to pertussis toxin enhanced the sensitivity to histamine in the SJL/J strain, but little effect was observed for BALB/c mice. However, the employment of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the detection of mRNA for histamine H1 receptor identified receptor-specific message in isolated cerebrovascular endothelium from both strains of mice. The lack of pial responsiveness in the BALB/c mice remains unexplained. Mast cells in the dura mater were found to be more numerous in SJL/J mice than in BALB/c mice. This observation supports previous observations of strain-specific differences in CNS inflammation. The results support the concept that genetically controlled differences in vascular sensitivity and localization of CNS-associated mast cells may play important roles in the generation of vasogenic edema and inflammation in CNS trauma and disease.

published proceedings

  • J Neurotrauma

author list (cited authors)

  • Yong, T., Bebo, B. F., Sapatino, B. V., Welsh, C. J., Orr, E. L., & Linthicum, D. S.

citation count

  • 22

complete list of authors

  • Yong, T||Bebo, BF||Sapatino, BV||Welsh, CJ||Orr, EL||Linthicum, DS

publication date

  • January 1994