Effects of different subtypes of histamine receptors on proliferation and differentiation of murine colony forming unit granulocyte-macrophage and colony forming unit megakaryocyte. (1/30)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the function and characteristics of histamine receptors on the hemopoietic progenitor cells. METHODS: BDF1 mice (both male and female), inbred at our university, aged 8-12 weeks, weighing 20-24 g, were used in this study. Bone marrow cells were incubated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C with 2-AT (H1 receptor agonist) or impromidine (H2 receptor agonist) alone, or in combination with the antagonists pyrilamine or cimetidine respectively. Control experiment was performed in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) alone. Cells treated with different drugs were performed by colony forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and colony forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg) assay. RESULTS: When bone marrow cells were treated with 10(-8) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L of 2-thiazolylethylamine (2-AT) which had no influence on CFU-GM and CFU-Meg proliferation, 10(-8) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L of impromidine could increase the number of CFU-GM and CFU-Meg colonies. The effects of H2 receptor agonists on CFU-GM, CFU-Meg could be antagonized by H1 receptor agonist. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the existence of histamine H1 and H2 receptors on the hemopoietic progenitor cells and the antagonism between two different histamine receptor subtypes on the proliferation of CFU-GM and CFU-Meg.  (+info)

Intraluminal acid and gastric mucosal integrity: the importance of blood-borne bicarbonate. (2/30)

The acid-secreting gastric mucosa resists intraluminal acid better than the nonsecreting. Here we investigated pH at the epithelial cell surface, mucosal permeability, and blood flow during intraluminal administration of acid (100 mM) in acid-stimulated and nonstimulated gastric corpus mucosae. Surface pH (H(+)-selective microelectrodes), permeability (clearance of (51)Cr-EDTA), and mucosal blood flow (laser-Doppler flowmetry) were studied in Inactin-anesthetized rats. Acid secretion was stimulated with pentagastrin (40 microg. kg(-1). h(-1)) or impromidine (500 microg. kg(-1). h(-1)), or HCO(3)(-) (5 mmol. kg(-1). h(-1)) given intravenously. Surface pH was only slightly reduced by intraluminal acid in acid secretion-stimulated or HCO(3)(-)-treated rats but was substantially lowered in nonstimulated rats. Clearance increased threefold and blood flow increased by approximately 75% in nonstimulated rats. During stimulated acid secretion or intravenous infusion of HCO(3)(-), clearance was unchanged and blood flow increased by only approximately 30% during intraluminal acid. Increased epithelial transport of HCO(3)(-) buffering the mucus gel is most probably the explanation for the acid-secreting mucosa being less vulnerable to intraluminal acid than the nonsecreting.  (+info)

Characterization of histamine receptor sub-types regulating prostacyclin release from human endothelial cells. (3/30)

1. The histamine receptor sub-types that are involved in the initiation and maintenance of prostacyclin (PGI2) release from human endothelial cells have been investigated. 2. Endothelial cells cultured from umbilical vein (HUVEC) were incubated with either histamine, the selective H1-receptor agonists, 2-methyl histamine (2-MeHA) or thiazolylethylamine (ThEA), the H1-agonist/H3-antagonist, beta-histidine (beta-His), the selective H2-agonist, dimaprit, the H2-agonist/H3-antagonist, impromidine, the selective H3-agonist, (R)alpha-methylhistamine ((R)alpha-MeHA) and the H3-antagonist, thioperamide. 3. The H1-agonists and the H3-agonist (R)alpha-MeHA induced a concentration (100 nM-1 mM) and time-dependent release of PGI2 as determined by radioimmunoassay for 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, but were less potent than histamine itself. The rank order of potency was the same following 30 min and 24 h incubation, i.e. histamine > ThEA > 2-MeHA >> beta-His > (R)alpha-MeHA. 4. Histamine and 2-MeHA (1 microM-1 mM), ThHEA (10 microM-1 mM) and (R)alpha-MeHA (1 mM), but not beta-His, induced a significantly greater increase in PGI2 release after 24 h incubation than after 30 min incubation (P < 0.05). 5. Neither the selective H2-agonist, dimaprit, nor the H2-agonist/H3-antagonist, impromidine alone induced release of PGI2. 6. The H1-antagonist, mepyramine (10 microM), abolished release of PGI2 induced by histamine, the H1-agonists and (R)alpha-MeHA but the H2-antagonist cimetidine (10 microM) and the H2/H3-antagonist, burimamide (10 microM) did not significantly modulate PGI2 release. 7. Although the H3-agonist (R)alphax-MeHA induced release of PGI2, it failed to modulate PGI2 release in the presence of histamine.8. Low concentrations of the H3-antagonist, thioperamide (100 nM) did not modulate histamine release of PGI2 at all but after 24 h incubation, thioperamide (10-4 M) partially reduced PGI2 release in the presence of histamine.9. These results indicate that PGI2 from HUVEC is initiated and maintained via histamine HI-receptor occupancy. There appears to be no involvement of either H2- or H3-receptors in this particular endothelial cell histaminergic response.  (+info)

Inhibition of sympathetic hypertensive responses in the guinea-pig by prejunctional histamine H3-receptors. (4/30)

1. The effect of (R)-alpha-methylhistamine, a selective H3-histamine receptor agonist, was examined on the neurogenic hypertension and tachycardia that is induced by stimulation of areas in the medulla oblongata of guinea-pigs. Electrical medullary stimulation (32 Hz, 3-5 s trains, 0.5-1.0 ms square pulse, 25-400 microA) produced intensity-dependent increases in blood pressure and a more variable tachycardia. 2. (R)-alpha-methylhistamine inhibited the hypertension and tachycardia due to submaximal CNS stimulation. The inhibition of hypertension by (R)-alpha-methylhistamine was dose-dependent (10-300 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) and was not seen at high intensities of stimulation. 3. (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (300 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) did not attenuate the pressor response to adrenaline (1 and 3 micrograms kg-1, i.v.), indicating that the effect of (R)-alpha-methylhistamine was not mediated by a postjunctional action on smooth muscle. 4. The inhibition of CNS-induced hypertension by (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (300 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) was blocked by the H3 antagonists, thioperamide (ID50 = 0.39 mg kg-1, i.v.), impromidine (ID50 = 0.22 mg kg-1, i.v.) and burimamide (ID50 = 6 mg kg-1, i.v.). The rank order potency of these antagonists is consistent with activity at the H3B receptor subtype. Chlorpheniramine (30 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) and cimetidine (3 mg kg-1, i.v.) did not antagonize the inhibition of CNS-hypertension by (R)-alpha-methylhistamine. 5. These results suggest that (R)-alpha-methylhistamine inhibits sympathetic hypertensive responses in guinea-pigs by activation of prejunctional H3-receptors, possibly located on postganglionic nerve terminals. Furthermore, on the basis of the rank order potency to different H3-antagonists, it appears that the H3B-receptor subtype is involved with H3-receptor responses on vascular sympathetic nerves.  (+info)

The effects of neuropeptide Y on myocardial contractility and coronary blood flow. (5/30)

1. This study was designed to assess the effects of exogenous neuropeptide Y (NPY) on cardiac contractility and coronary blood flow (CBF) in anaesthetized dogs and to evaluate the effect of NPY on the responses to sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation and to inotropic agents. 2. Bolus doses of NPY (500 micrograms), administered via the femoral vein, increased mean arterial pressure. The pressor effect was associated with reductions in heart rate, CBF and cardiac contractility. 3. The effects of NPY (500 micrograms) on contractility and CBF were compared with that of vasopressin (VP) (1 unit). For similar reductions in CBF, NPY and VP had similar negative inotropic effects. Thus, it is likely that the negative inotropic response to NPY is not due to a direct effect of NPY on the heart muscle but is largely due to coronary vasoconstriction. 4. In the presence of NPY (500 micrograms, i.v.), there was an inhibition of the positive inotropic response to stimulation of the left cardiac sympathetic nerve (2 or 5 Hz, 0.05 ms). NPY also inhibited the negative inotropic response and chronotropic response to vagal stimulation (2, 3 or 5 Hz, 0.05 ms). 5. Dose-response curves were obtained for the inotropic, chronotropic and pressor responses to cumulative infusions of noradrenaline (n = 6) and dobutamine (n = 6). NPY had no effect on these dose-response curves. 6. The effect of NPY on the responses to salbutamol and impromidine was assessed. NPY did not alter the positive inotropic, chronotropic or depressor responses to these agonists. 7. Our results indicate that NPY has direct, postsynaptic vasoconstrictor activity and the reduction in myocardial contractility and heart rate are due to a combination of coronary vasoconstriction, baroreceptor reflex activation and presynaptic inhibition of transmitter release from sympathetic nerves. The welldocumented inhibitory effect of NPY on the chronotropic response to parasympathetic stimulation was confirmed and similar inhibition of the inotropic response to both sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation was demonstrated. Since there was no modulation of the inotropic effects of exogenous alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor or H2-receptor agonists, it is concluded that the effects of NPY on myocardial contractility are exerted presynaptically.  (+info)

Characterization of histamine H3-receptors in guinea-pig ileum with H3-selective ligands. (6/30)

1. The effect of the selective histamine H3-receptor agonist R-(alpha)-methylhistamine has been investigated on the contractile responses of the longitudinal smooth muscle of guinea-pig ileum elicited by electrical field stimulation of acetylcholine release from myenteric nerve endings. 2. R-(alpha)-methylhistamine produced a concentration-dependent (EC50 = 1.4 +/- 0.2 x 10(-8) M) inhibition of the response to electrical field stimulation which was insensitive to inhibition by mepyramine (1 microM) and tiotidine (2.4 microM). 3. This response to R-(alpha)-methylhistamine could be inhibited in a competitive fashion by a range of H3-receptor antagonists including thioperamide (KB = 1.1 nM), impromidine (KB = 65 nM), norburimamide (KB = 380 nM) and SKF 91486 (KB = 34 nM). Burimamide was also a potent inhibitor of this response but the Schild slope obtained (1.3) was significantly greater than unity. 4. The estimated KB values were all within a factor of three of those values reported for the histamine H3-receptor mediating inhibition of histamine release in rat cerebral cortex. 5. These data suggest that the histamine receptor mediating inhibition of cholinergic neurotransmission by R-(alpha)-methylhistamine in guinea-pig ileum is the same as the H3-receptor present in rat cerebral cortex.  (+info)

Analysis of competitive antagonism when this property occurs as part of a pharmacological resultant. (7/30)

In this paper, pharmacological resultant is defined as the net effect of a single compound resulting from the simultaneous expression of two or more specific actions. The principles of concentration-ratio analysis are extended to develop a method for detecting and quantifying competitive antagonism when this property is a component of a pharmacological resultant. The method is general to the extent that it allows analysis of competitive antagonism in combination with all types of post-receptor intervention. Essentially it depends on the altered expression of competition by a reference antagonist. It incorporates tests for validating its application and it is independent of agonist concentration-effect curve shape: in these respects the method is analogous to Schild plot-analysis of simple competition. The methodology for the practical application of the analysis is exemplified by studying the net effect of a combination of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (isobutylmethylxanthine) and histamine H2-receptor antagonist (metiamide) on histamine-stimulated tachycardia in guinea-pig, isolated, right atrium. Cimetidine was used as the reference antagonist. The equation used in this analysis is similar in form to one recently described by Hughes & Mackay (1985) to elucidate the situation when competitive antagonism occurs in combination with functional interactions. The relation between their method and the present analysis is discussed.  (+info)

Pharmacological characterization of histamine receptors in the human temporal artery. (8/30)

1. The subtypes of histamine-receptors which mediate dilatation of small human temporal arteries have been characterized in vitro using 'selective' agonists and antagonists. 2. Dilatory responses were studied after preconstriction with prostaglandin F2 alpha since contraction was not seen at histamine concentrations up to 10(-4) M. Histamine caused a concentration-related relaxation of cerebral vessels with an IC50 value of 2.8 +/- 0.6 X 10(-7) M. 3. Cimetidine caused a parallel shift to the right of the histamine concentration-response curve whereas mepyramine was without observable effect. This suggests the presence of histamine H2-receptors only. However, combined treatment with mepyramine and cimetidine caused a more marked displacement of the concentration-response curve to the right. Schild analysis indicated that in situations of near complete blockade of the histamine H1-receptor subtypes, simple competitive antagonism at H2-receptors can be revealed with a pA2 value of 6.58 for cimetidine. The apparent pA2 value for mepyramine was 8.58. 4. The 'selective' H1-receptor agonists pyridylethylamine, 2-methylhistamine and thiazolylethylamine, and the H2-receptor agonists dimaprit, impromidine and 4-methylhistamine all mimicked the histamine response, but all except impromidine were less potent than histamine. The order of potency was impromidine greater than thiazolylamine greater than 4-Me-histamine greater than 2-Me-histamine greater than dimaprit greater than pyridylethylamine greater than tele-Me-histamine. 5. These results indicate that the histamine-induced dilatation in small human temporal arteries is mediated by both H1- and H2-receptors and that the latter subtype of histamine receptors predominates.  (+info)