DIGESTION 43 



amine or as it has been called histamine. The reaction 

 occurring follows. 



CH CH 



HIST X N UN ^N 



I I I 

 HC C HC C 



I I 



CH a CH, 



CH.NH 2 CH a 



JCOOJH NH a 



Histidine /3-iminazolylethylamine 



This substance besides possessing an action upon 

 the nervous system is capable of producing symptoms 

 identical with those of anaphylactic shock. Its pres- 

 ence in the alimentary canal has also been demon- 

 strated. 



The diamines, cadaverine and putrescine, arise in 

 the alimentary through the action of bacteria. Cadav- 

 erine is produced in the following manner, lysine serv- 

 ing as the mother substance. Lysine, which has the 

 following formula: 



CH 2 .CH..CH a .CH a .CH.COOH 

 NH, NH, 



by cleavage of carbon dioxide yields cadaverine which 

 has the structure below 



