Mast cells, which are the main source of histamine, are significantly affected by sex steroids. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of bilateral castration and testosterone replacement on peritoneal histamine concentration and lung histamine concentration in pubertal male rats (Wistar strain). Three groups of animals were used in this study: (1) untreated castrated animals, (2) castrated animals subjected to androgen replacement by injection of propionate of testosterone, and (3) intact males as a control group. Castration alone produced a dramatic reduction in peritoneal histamine concentration. In addition, androgen replacement was effective in restoring the histamine concentration to the normal value detected in the control males (P<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). On the other hand, there was no significant variation in the lung histamine concentration between control males, untreated castrated males and castrated males that received androgen replacement (P<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). These results demonstrate for the first time that castration markedly reduces the peritoneum histamine concentration in pubertal male rats, and testosterone replacement prevents the decrease. Further, these procedures do not affect lung histamine concentration, demonstrating that mast cells from different tissues may respond differently to the same biological factors.

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