Involvement of calcium ions in the modulation of electrically-induced rat vas deferens contractions by histaminergic drugs.

1. The modulatory action of histaminergic drugs: histamine; 2-(2-aminoethyl)thiazole (H1-agonist); dimaprit (H2-agonist); diphenhydramine (H1-receptor antagonist); and cimetidine (H2-receptor antagonist) on rat vas deferens contractions induced by electrical field stimulation (0.1 Hz, 1 pulse, 1 msec duration, supramaximal voltage) was studied either at different calcium concentrations in the nutrient fluid or after verapamil. 2. Histamine and 2-(2-aminoethyl)thiazole inhibited the electrically-evoked contractions (EEC). This effect was unchanged after verapamil. 3. Diphenhydramine potentiated the EEC. Verapamil added before the H1-receptor antagonist inhibited this action. 4. The effects of agonists and antagonists of H-receptors decreased with the increasing of calcium concentration. 5. The results obtained suggested the existence of heterogeneity of prejunctional H-receptors. The function of histaminergic drugs on adrenergic neurotransmission in field stimulated rat vas deferens is Ca(2+)-dependent.