title: An antiallergic activity of disodium cromoglycate unrelated to mast cell activation.
abstract: The pharmacological effects of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) were studied in rats during the development of reactions to various allergens or carrageenin. DSCG (10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, i.v.) showed pronounced inhibitory effects on type I and type III (passive Arthus) allergic reactions. An immunological degranulation of mast cells and a significant decrease in tissue histamine content were observed in type I allergic reactions but not in type III allergic reactions characterized by an apparent infiltration of neutrophils. An antihistaminic agent, promethazine (1 mg/kg, i.v.) was effective only against type I allergic reactions and totally ineffective against type III allergic reactions. Thus, the results obtained above strongly suggest that DSCG exhibits at least two mechanisms of antiallergic action; one is related to mediator release from mast cells and the other is unrelated to mast cell activation.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D002351:Carrageenan; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D007106:Immune Sera; D007249:Inflammation; D011398:Promethazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D007106:Immune Sera; D002351:Carrageenan; D011398:Promethazine; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium