Inhibition of basophil degranulation with histamine dilutions

Journal/Book: CR de la Reunion de la Fond Franc pour la Recherche en Homéopathie, Lyon. 1989;

Abstract: Since 1981 we have been working on the biological activity of high dilutions of histamine on in-vitro basophil degranulation. We have noted that histamine inhibited basophil degranulation triggered by housedust mite extract at dilutions of 10 -13 TMC (p<O.OOb n = 36) and 10-33 TMC (p<0.01 n = 36), with histamine content in the tested dilutions expressed in Theoretical Molar Concentration. Other inhibition peaks were also observed until 10 -117 TMC following a reccurent pattern.4-methyl-histamine, an agonist of histamine, showed similar activity, and cimetidine 10-5 M, an H2 antagonist, blocked the reaction. Histidine was invariably found to be inactive. Histaminase inhibited the action of the histamine dilutions at 10-13 TMC, whereas it had no effect at 10-33 TMC.The experiments were carried out by staining basophils with toluidine blue, and confirmed with alcian blue.Our aim was not to find a scientific explanation for his paradoxal phenomenon, but to submit it as obtained by reliable method which may be standardised and used in pharmacology when strictly-defined protocol is applied.

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