Visualization of endothelial cell glycocalyx following histamine perfusion

Heparin-dependent staining of endothelial cell glycocalyx is described following perfusion of the rat mesenteric vasculature with histamine. Similar staining is seen following perfusion with penicillamine, a chelator of heavy metals and chemically similar to histamine. This suggests that the chelator properties of the imidazole ring of histamine may be involved in the formation of the reaction product.