Effect of corticosteroids on the release of histamine and prostaglandins from fragments of mesentery of immunized guinea pigs

Summary When challenged with antigen fragments of mesentery of immunized guinea pigs released histamine and a prostaglandin-like substance (PGs). The release of both mediators was inhibited by hydrocortisone hemisuccinate (1.0–30.0 μg/ml) and dexamethasone (10.0 μg/ml). Indomethacin (10.0 μg/ml) and hydrocortisone hemisuccinate at low concentrations (0.05–0.6 μg/ml) suppressed the release of PGs, while the release of histamine was stimulated. It is suggested that glucocorticosteroids exert these effects due to their interaction with biomembranes.