Central histaminergic stimulation of corticosterone and hyperlipemic responses after chronic ethanol consumption in rats.

The consumption of ethanol in a 10% solution for 3 weeks produced a negligible increase in corticosterone secretion in the rat but raised the levels of free fatty acid (FFA) in the serum. Mepyramine insignificantly antagonized and cimetidine intensified the corticosterone response. Histamine and the H1- and H2-receptor agonists, 2-pyridylethylamine (PEA) and dimaprit significantly raised the serum corticosterone levels in chronically alcoholized rats. Mepyramine antagonized and cimetidine increased the ethanol-induced hyperlipemia. Histamine, PEA and dimaprit considerably increased the serum FFA levels in alcoholized rats. After withdrawal of ethanol, histamine and dimaprit induced a marked hyperlipemic effect, whereas PEA did not increase the serum FFA concentration. These results indicate that in chronically alcoholized rats the central histaminergic system interacts with ethanol in regulation of the serum FFA level. After the ethanol withdrawal central H1-receptors do not respond to H1-agonist stimulation.