Release of Histamine from Rat Diaphragm by Cobra Venom

SEVERAL substances like strychnine, adrenaline and curare alkaloids are known to set free histamine from skeletal muscle. The release of histamine from rat diaphragm by ammonia1and B-tubo-curarine chloride2has recently been reported. Feldberg and Kellaway3have shown that snake poisons liberate histamine from the perfused lungs of guinea pigs and cats. The experiments described here demonstrate that cobra (Naia naia) venom is a potent liberator of histamine from striated muscle of the rat.