Elevation of the large bowel histamine concentration by aminoguanidine induced diamine oxidase inhibition

In inflammatory diseases of the large bowel a reduced diamine oxidase activity was found which may be related to a reduced oxidative degradation of histamine. An experimental inhibition of diamine oxidase could therefore influence the large bowel histamine concentration. The diamine oxidase inhibitor aminoguanidine was administered to rats in a single dose of 100 mg/kg orally, i.v., or i.p. A rapid increase of the concentration of the drug in the large bowel was measured (half-life = 2-5 h). During chronic amino-guanidine administration (3 times/week, 100 mg/kg orally) the large bowel histamine increased by 30% on average. This may be sufficient for a proliferative stimulus of the intestinal mucosa. Previous reports of an increase of body weight of animals and of patients under aminoguanidine treatment could not be confirmed by our study.