The significance of histamine H1 and H2 receptors on the carotid vascular bed in the dog.

Intra-arterial histamine produced a dose-dependent increase in common carotid blood flow due to an active vasodilation. A supramaximal dose of mepyramine (H1-blocker) only partially suppressed the effects of lower doses of histamine without influencing those of its higher amounts. Both metiamide and burimamide (H2-blockers) effectively antagonized the mepyramine-resistant carotid vasodilator responses to histamine. The results permit us to conclude that two distinctly different types of histaminergic receptors (H1 and H2) are present in the carotid vascular bed and both of these receptor types are equally important in subserving histamine vasodilation. This fact may explain why, despite incriminating evidence for a pathophysiologic role of histamine, the usual antihistaminic agents are rather ineffective in migrainous headaches. It is suggested that the use of both types of antihistaminic agents concurrently may provide a new approach to the treatment of migrainous headaches, particularly cluster-type headaches.