STIMULATORY EFFECT OF HISTAMINE ON THE PEROXIDATION OF LINOLEIC-ACID

Stimulatory effects of histamine on the peroxidation of linoleic acid vesicle membranes were studied. Among the imidazole-related materials tested, histamine enhanced the peroxidation of linoleic acid best of all. It became apparent that both imidazole and primary amino groups of histamine were required for the stimulatory activity. Histamine significantly enhanced the rate of lipid peroxidation in concentrations less than 10 mM, whereas the stimulatory effect of histamine on the peroxidation of linoleic acid was completely inhibited by the iron chelators diethylenetriamine-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and Desferal. Furthermore, the addition of Fe(II) enhanced significantly the histamine-dependent lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that histamine affects the redox potential of iron, thereby stimulating the iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.