Abstract
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1.
The effects of histamine antagonists on noradrenaline-stimulated metabolic rate, tissue blood flow (estimated from the distribution of radiolabelled microspheres) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) oxygen extraction were studied in male anaesthetised rats.
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2.
Injection of cimetidine (H2-receptor antagonist), reduced the noradrenaline-stimulation of metabolic rate and the increase in blood flow to BAT, but did not affect blood flow to white adipose tissue, skin, leg muscle, kidney, brain, or testes.
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3.
Following noradrenaline, in vivo oxygen consumption of BAT, estimated from blood flow and oxygen extraction was depressed to 31% of control values by treatment with cimetidine, blood pressure was unaffected.
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4.
Injection of the histamine (H1-receptor) antagonist, mepyramine, did not affect tissue blood flow or metabolic rate.
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5.
In conscious animals, cimetidine did not affect resting oxygen consumption, but depressed the thermogenic responses to noradrenaline.
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6.
These data suggest that the stimulation of BAT blood flow and thermogenesis by noradrenaline may be mediated in part by histamine acting on an H2-type receptor.
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Rothwell, N.J., Stock, M.J. & Wyllie, M.G. Effects of histamine antagonists on noradrenaline-stimulated blood flow and oxygen consumption of brown adipose tissue in the rat. Pflugers Arch. 402, 325–329 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585518
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585518