Endothelium-dependent relaxing effect of histamine on the isolated guinea-pig main pulmonary artery strips.

Contribution of endothelial cells (ECs) to the effects of histamine (HA) was investigated on the isolated guinea-pig main pulmonary artery (GPPA) strips precontracted with noradrenaline (NA). HA caused dose-dependent relaxation at the concentrations ranged between 10(-8) to 10(-6) M but produced a contraction when a relatively higher concentration (10(-5) M) was used in unrubbed strips. Cimetidine partially inhibited the relaxing effect of HA without altering its constrictive action. In rubbed strips, however, HA produced a dose-dependent contraction. The constrictive effect of HA in rubbed strips enhanced after addition of cimetidine to the incubation medium. HA elicited a concentration-dependent relaxation in both unrubbed and rubbed strips in the presence of mepyramine. Impromidine produced a relaxation in the strips with and without endothelium. These data was taken as an evidence indicating that HA caused a relaxation in the isolated GPPA strips, first causing the release of endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF) which is triggered by H1-receptors and secondly by the direct stimulation of H2-receptors.