Effect of histamine agonists and antagonists on the production of murine reaginic antibodies.

At least wo histamine receptors have been pharmacologically defined. Using the appropriate agonists and antagonists, the possible involvement of these receptor types in the production of reaginic antibodies in the rodent was investigated. After injecting mice with dinitrophenyl-ovalbumin (DNP-OA), maximal serum reaginic titers occurred on day 11 as measured by heterologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. If the mice were dosed daily (i.p.) with the H1 agonist, 2-methylhistamine, or the H2 antagonist, metiamide, the titers of reaginic antibodies on day 11 were significantly higher than the controls. The titers were significantly lower than the controls if an H2 agonist (4-methylhistamine, dimaprit, or impromidine) or if the H1 antagonist, pyrilamine, was administered daily. None of these agents significantly affected total serum IgG titers as measured by ELISA. However, if the mice were injected with DNP-OA on day 0, then dosed daily with metiamide, pyrilamine, or 4 methylhistamine beginning on day 32, the titers of reaginic antibodies elicited by a second injection of DNP-OA given on day 36 were not significantly different from the titers of the non-drug treated mice. Thus, under these conditions, with these agents, the results suggest that histamine receptors may be involved in modulating the production of reaginic antibodies during a primary immunological response, H1 receptor agonists enhanced, while H2 receptor agonists suppressed the responses, and the reverse effect was observed with the appropriate antagonists. However, histamine receptors appear not to be measurably involved in the development of the secondary reaginic response.