Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A postsynaptic inhibitory histamine H2-receptor in the mouse isolated vas deferens

  • Histamine and Kinins
  • Published:
Agents and Actions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of histamine on adrenergic neurotransmission in the mouse isolated vas deferens preparation was investigated. Concentrations of histamine ranging from 0.2 to 650 μM depressed, in a dose-related manner, not only the contractile response elicited by field stimulation but also the response caused by the addition of exogenous noradrenaline and acetylcholine. However, the release of [3H]-NA evoked by field stimulation or by high K+ remained unchanged in the presence of these concentrations of histamine. The inhibitory effect of histamine on the contractile responses caused by various stimuli was reduced or completely antagonized by cimetidine, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist but not by mepyramine, a conventional antihistamine. The inhibitory effect of histamine was found to be inversely proportional to both the Ca2+ concentration in the bathing medium and to the frequency of field stimulation. Further, the inhibitory effect of histamine was markedly reduced when Mg2+ was omitted from the bathing medium. It is concluded that the mouse vas deferens preparation contains a post-junctional inhibitory H2-receptor. The stimulation of H2-receptors by histamine inhibits the contractile response of the vas deferens, possibly by decreasing the availability of Ca2+ required for contraction by depressing the influx of Ca2+.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A.S.F. Ash andH.O. Schild,Receptors Mediating Some Actions of Histamine, Br. J. Pharmac. Chemother.27, 427–439 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  2. J.W. Black, W.A.M. Duncan, C.J. Durant, C.R. Ganellin andE.M. Parsons,Definition and Antagonism of Histamine H 2 -Receptors, Nature236, 385–390 (1972).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. U.S. von Euler,Relationship between Histamine and the Autonomic Nervous System, in:Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol. 18 (Ed. M. Rocha e Silva; Springer-Verlag, New York, 1966), pp. 318–333.

    Google Scholar 

  4. U.S. von Euler andA. Purkhold,Histamine in Organs and Its Relation to the Sympathetic Nerve Supply, Acta Physiol. Scand.24, 218–224 (1951).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. M.J. Ryan andM.J. Brody,Distribution of Histamine in the Canine Autonomic Nervous System, J. Pharmac. exp. Ther.174, 123–132 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  6. M.A. McGrath andJ.T. Shepherd,Inhibition of Adrenergic Neurotransmission in Canine Vascular Smooth Muscle by Histamine: Mediation by H 2 -Receptors, Circulation Res.39, 566–573 (1976).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. A.T. Birmingham andA.B. Wilson,Preganglionic and Postganglionic Stimulation of the Guinea-Pig Isolated Vas Deferens Preparation, Br. J. Pharmac.21, 569–580 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  8. M.D. Day,Influence of the Length of the Stimulus Period and Frequency of Sympathetic Stimulation on the Response of the Guinea-Pig Isolated Vas Deferens to Bretylium, Guanethidine, and Amphetamine, J. Pharm. Pharmac.17, 619–627 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  9. S. Jayasundar andM.M. Vohra,Mechanism of Nicotine-Induced Release of Noradrenaline from Adrenergic Nerve Endings, Br. J. Pharmac.61, 183–188 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  10. J.C. Szerb,Endogenous Acetylcholine Release and Labelled Acetylcholine Formation from [ 3 H]-Choline in the Myenteric Plexus of the Guinea Pig Ileum, Can. J. Physiol. and Pharmacol.53, 566–574 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  11. G.A. Bray,A Simple Efficient Liquid Scintillator for Counting Aqueous Solutions in a Liquid Scintillation Counter, Anal. Biochem.1, 279–285 (1960).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. R.R. Furchgott,The Pharmacological Differentiation of Adrenergic Receptors, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.139, 553–570 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. R.W. Brimblecombe, W.A.M. Duncan, G.J. Durant, J.C. Emmett, C.R. Ganellin andM.E. Parsons,Cimetidine — a Non-Thiourea H 2 -receptor Antagonist, Journal of International Medical Research3, 86–91 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  14. R.W. Brimblecombe, W.A.M. Duncan, G.J. Durant, J.C. Emmett, C.R. Ganellin, G.B. Leslie andM.E. Parsons,Characterization and Development of Cimetidine as a Histamine H 2 -Receptor Antagonist, Gastroenterology74, Part 2, 339–347 (1978).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. K. Starke andH. Montel,Influence of Drugs with Affinity for α-Adrenoceptors on Noradrenaline Release by Potassium, Tyramine and Dimethyl-Phenylpiperizinium, Eur. J. Pharmac.27, 273–280 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. I. Marshall,An Inhibitory Histamine H 2 -Receptor in the Mouse Vas Deferens, Br. J. Pharmac. 62, 447P (1978).

  17. C. Owman andN.O. Sjöberg,Difference in Rate of Depletion and Recovery of Noradrenaline in ‘Short’ and ‘Long’ Sympathetic Nerves after Reserpine Treatment, Life Sci.6, Part 2, 2549–2556 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. G. Swedin,Comparison of the Effects of α-Methyltyrosine on the Noradrenaline Stores of Different Peripheral Organs of the Rat, Life Sci.9, Part 1, 1249–1259 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. A.L. Hodgkin andR.D. Keynes,Movements of Labelled Calcium in Squid Giant Axons, J. Physiol., Lond.138, 253–281 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  20. D. Schachter andS.M. Rosen,Active Transport of Ca 45 by the Small Intestine and Its Dependence on Vitamin D, Am. J. Physiol.196, 357–362 (1959).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. A.H.E. Samiy, J.L. Brown, D.L. Globus, R.H. Kessler andD.D. Thompson,Interrelation between Renal Transport Systems of Magnesium and Calcium, Am. J. Physiol.198, 599–602 (1960).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. D.L. Gilbert,Magnesium Equilibrium in Muscle, J. Gen. Physiol.43, 1103–1118 (1960).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. P.F. Baker,Transport and Metabolism of Calcium Ions in Nerve, Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology24, 117–223 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. T.C. Westfall,Local Regulation of Adrenergic Neurotransmission, Physiol. Rev.57, 659–728 (1977).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4H7, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    M. M. Vohra

Authors
  1. M. M. Vohra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vohra, M.M. A postsynaptic inhibitory histamine H2-receptor in the mouse isolated vas deferens. Agents and Actions 9, 319–326 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01970655

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01970655

Keywords

Search

Navigation