Release of prolactin and luteinizing hormone by histamine agonists in ovariectomized, steroid-treated rats under ether anesthesia.

Responses to histamine agonists administered intraventricularly under ether anesthesia were analyzed to evaluate receptor mediation in histamine stimulation of prolactin and LH release in ovariectomized, estradiol-progesterone-treated rats (OVX-E2P-treated rats). Prolactin release was markedly increased by the H2-histamine agonists, 4-methyl histamine and Dimaprit. These effects were antagonized by metiamide, an H2-blocking agent. The H1-histamine agonist, 2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine (PEA) in high doses released prolactin and its effect was partially prevented by metiamide. Mepyramine, and H1-antagonist, did not exert any effect on the release of prolactin enhanced by the histamine agonists. LH release was significantly increased after 4-methyl histamine administration. Its effect was weak and was blocked by metiamide. Neither Dimaprit nor PEA exhibited action on plasma LH levels. The results obtained with histamine agonists suggest that histamine evokes prolactin release in OVX,E2P-treated rats through H2-receptors. At present, conclusions on H2-receptor mediation in LH release induced by histamine cannot be drawn from these results. The above-mentioned data, however, conclusively discard a significant participation of H1-receptors.