Quercetin and histamine effects of the content of superoxide anion and ATP in the blood plasma of rats

Abstract

Background. Histamine is one of the versatile biogenic amines with multiple roles in the immune response and allergic disorders. Histamine and ATP can act as ligands in the body. In plasma, ATP is a potent vasodilator that stimulates the formation of NO and prostaglandins and, very importantly, can offset local sympathetic vasoconstriction. Adenosine triphosphate is released into plasma from erythrocytes and endothelial cells, and the plasma concentration increases in both the feed artery and the vein draining the contracting skeletal muscle. Taking this into account, it is important to study the effect of histamine in combination with quercetin, which inhibits the release of histamine from cellular depots, on the content of the superoxide anion and ATP in the blood plasma. Materials and Methods. Nonlinear white male rats were used for the experimental studies. Quercetin solutions were added to whole blood to a final concentration of 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 1; 3; 5 mM. In other experiments, histamine solution was added to the blood to final concentration of 0.01; 0.1; 1; 10 μM. In a series of experiments, histamine (0.01 and 10 μM) and quercetin (0.1; 0.5; 3; 5 mM) were added to the blood in various possible combinations. Blood plasma was used in each experimental group. The blood to which saline was added was used as control. The content of superoxide anion and adenosine triphosphate was measured in the selected samples. Results and Discussion. Histamine, quercetin, as well as their combined action lead to the intensification of superoxide anion generation in the blood plasma of rats. Quercetin is known to be an antioxidant, but some of our studies have shown the opposite effect. Quercetin causes an increase in the ATP content in the blood plasma of rats. Histamine causes the same effect only at concentrations of 0.1 and 10 µM. Likewise, the combined administration of histamine and quercetin into the blood increased the ATP content. The results of ANOVA test prove that both histamine and quercetin have the same effect on the release of superoxide anion and ATP from blood cells into plasma. Their combined action only strengthens the effect of releasing the studied products. Conclusion. Quercetin, histamine and their combined action cause an increase in the generation of superoxide anion and ATP in the blood plasma of rats.