Histamine receptors in the isolated human middle meningeal artery. A comparison with cerebral and temporal arteries.

The subtypes of histamine receptors mediating dilatation of human meningeal arteries have been tested in vitro, using "selective" antagonists, and compared with cerebral and temporal arteries previously examined. Dilatory responses were tested after preconstriction with prostaglandin F2 alpha. Both mepyramine and cimetidine caused a parallel shift to the right of the histamine concentration-response curve, suggesting the presence of both H1- and H2-receptors. Combined treatment with mepyramine and cimetidine caused further displacement of the concentration-response curve to the right. Schild analysis indicated pA2 values of 6.3 for cimetidine and 9.8 for mepyramine in situations of near complete blockade of either of the receptors. Both H1- and H2-receptors seem of importance for the histamine-induced dilatation in meningeal arteries and neither appear to dominate. The data considered in conjunction with our previous findings support the finding that experimental histamine-induced headache due to vasodilatation is intracranial of origin.