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Impaired Reproduction of Histamine Deficient (histidine‐decarboxylase Knockout) Mice is Caused Predominantly by a Decreased Male Mating Behavior
Author(s) -
Pár Gabriella,
SzekeresBarthó Júlia,
Buzás Edit,
Pap Erna,
Falus András
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2003.00066.x
Subject(s) - histamine , histidine decarboxylase , litter , knockout mouse , biology , endocrinology , reproduction , mating , medicine , pregnancy , cytotoxic t cell , histidine , gene , genetics , amino acid , ecology , in vitro
PROBLEM: Histamine induces a Th2 shift. As successful allopregnancy is characterized by a peripheral Th2 dominance, we investigated the role of histamine in reproduction. METHOD OF STUDY: HDC knockout (HDC−/−) or wild‐type (HDC+/+) mice kept on histamine‐deficient or normal diet were mated. Appearance of vaginal plugs indicated day 0.5 of pregnancy. On day 10.5 uteri were inspected. Splenic IFN‐ γ production and cytotoxic activity were determined. RESULTS: In HDC+/+ or HDC−/− females on normal diet, plugs appeared between 3 and 6 days. In 80% of the (HDC−/−)/(HDC−/−) matings on histamine‐deficient diet, no vaginal plugs were observed for more than 1 month. After replacing males with the wild type, plugs appeared within 3 days. In HDC−/− mice, litter size was lower than in HDC+/+ animals. Cytotoxicity and IFN‐ γ production were significantly increased in non‐pregnant histamine‐deficient mice, but not in pregnant mice. CONCLUSION: Histamine affects male mating behavior, but is not indispensable for successful pregnancy.