Forskolin inhibits histamine release by neurotensin in the rat perfused hind limb.

We have assessed the influence of forskolin, a potent activator of adenylate cyclase, on histamine release by neurotensin (NT) in the rat perfused hind limb. The results indicate that forskolin, in concentrations known to increase the cyclic AMP content of various tissues, markedly inhibits the histamine releasing effect of NT. The inhibitory action of forskolin was mimicked by a synthetic cyclic AMP derivative and by 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX), a potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Our results suggest that the inhibitory action of forskolin toward histamine release by NT in the rat hind limb mast cells results from the activation of a cyclic AMP-generating system in mast cells.