Selective inhibition by vasocortin of histamine release induced by dextran and concanavalin-A from rat peritoneal cells.

Vasocortin, a glucocorticoid-induced anti-inflammatory protein, has been purified from the peritoneal lavage fluid of dexamethasone-treated rats. Vasocortin inhibited the release of histamine from rat peritoneal cells stimulated by dextran or concanavalin A but did not alter the release induced by calcium ionophore A23187 or compound 48/80. This selective effect exhibited by vasocortin mimics the glucocorticoid inhibition of histamine release from rat mast cells.