Manometric determination of histaminase

Abstract

A critical review is made on the different ways to obtain histaminase active extracts from the pig’s kidney. Special attention is given to the use of dialysis in those techniques. Histaminase active extracts are obtained from intestine and liver of the rat, and the troubles solved to succeed as well as the procedure used are analized. A method to mesure histaminase activity based in manometric techniques using cadaverine dihydrochloride as substrate is developed. The preference for cadaverine is justified and a new unit, the M unit, is stablished and easily related to the amount of histamine destroyed. The rate of oxygen uptake during the enzime-substract reaction is analized; a period of latency in. the consumption of oxygen is demostrated at the mixture of the enzyme with the substract. After that period a linear correlation is found between oxygen uptake and histamine destruction during the first hour. It is doubtfull that this correlation remains constant for a longer period.