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H. L. BOCKUS, M.D.; JOSEPH BANK, M.D.

Arch Intern Med. 1927;39(4):508-519.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Histamine (B-imidazolylethylamine) is derived from the amino-acid histidine, an almost universal constituent of proteins. It is evolved by decarboxylation in an appropriate medium by bacteria. Koessler and Hanke have shown that certain strains of Bacillus coli and other bacteria are capable of producing histamine from histidine in the presence of an available source of carbon such as glycerol or glucose, plus a source of nitrogen (potassium nitrate, ammonium chloride or both) in the presence of oxygen. They believe that histamine is formed in the bowel by bacteria in order to neutralize an excessive acidity produced from glycerol. These observers have shown that histamine is a normal constituent of the cecum and feces of man in sufficient amounts to be dangerously toxic. The reason for the absence of toxicity is not established definitely. Hanke and Koessler¹ believe that histamine is rendered pharmacologically inert in its passage through the intestinal wall. It . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
PHILADELPHIA

From the Gastro-Intestinal Clinic, Graduate School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania.

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