STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF PHAGOCYTIC STIMULATION ON MICROBIAL DISEASE: III. THE INFLUENCE OF ANTIHISTAMINES AND 1,4-DIMETHYL-7-ISOPROPYLAZULENE ON EXPERIMENTAL TUBERCULOSIS—PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTS

Albino mice were infected intravenously with Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis (Ravenel strain). The animals treated with the given antihistaminic substance died significantly sooner than the non-treated control animals. In a similar experiment, the deteriorating effect of antihistamine drug on experimental tuberculosis in guinea pigs was demonstrated. On the basis of previous experiments, it is supposed that the physiological stimulation of the defense mechanism by histamine has been hampered in its function. The administration of 1,4-dimethyl-7-isopropylazulene, which is believed to be a non-toxic agent simulating histamine production, prolonged the life of infected animals. When antihistamine was given in addition to 1,4-dimethyl-7-isopropylazulene, the deteriorating effect of the antihistamine was inhibited. Results are discussed in terms of whether the host–parasite relationship can be favorably influenced by means of a stimulant of the reticulo-endothelial system.