Pharmacological characterization of the histamine receptor in the isolated muscularis mucosae of the guinea-pig oesophagus.

To characterize the histamine receptors in the muscularis mucosae, the isotonic responsiveness of the isolated muscularis mucosae of the guinea-pig oesophagus to histamine receptor agonists and antagonists was examined in vitro. Histamine (0.1-100 microM) produced a concentration-dependent contraction of the muscularis mucosae (EC50 = 1.6 +/- 0.2 microM). The contractions were rapid in onset, sustained, reversible by washing and the preparation did not show tachyphylaxis. 2-Methylhistamine (2-MH), 2-pyridylethylamine (PEA) and 4-methylhistamine (4-MH) produced similar sustained contractions of the muscularis mucosae. The order of sensitivity was histamine greater than 2-MH greater than PEA greater than 4-MH. Impromidine (10-300 microM) and dimaprit (10-300 microM) caused no response in this tissue. The contractile responses to histamine, 2-MH, and PEA were competitively antagonized by diphenhydramine, and the pA2 values were almost the same (approximately 8.1). Cimetidine (100 microM) could not modify the contractile response to these agonists. The contractile response to histamine was slightly inhibited by tetrodotoxin (0.3 microM), atropine (1 microM), indomethacin (0.1-3 microM) or aspirin (30-300 microM), and the EC50 value was increased about 2-6 times by these drugs. When the preparation was incubated in Tyrode solution containing various calcium concentrations (0, 0.45, 0.9 and 1.8 mM), the concentration-response curve to histamine was shifted to the right and downward; the effect was inversely dependent on the calcium concentration, and in a calcium-free medium the response to histamine was abolished. Verapamil (1-10 microM) partially inhibited the contractile response to histamine. 7 The present results indicate that the contraction of the guinea-pig oesophageal muscularis mucosae to histamine is mediated mainly by a direct action on the smooth muscle and partly by indirect actions via the stimulation of either endogenous prostaglandin biosynthesis or intramural cholinergic nerves. The histamine receptors responsible for contractions of this tissue are probably mainly of the H,- subtype with H2-receptors having a negligible role.