[Potassium channel openers antagonize 4-aminopyridine induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells].

4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) was shown to promote histamine release from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC) in a dose-dependent manner. Potassium channel openers, minoxidil (Min) 200 mg.kg-1 ig, diazoxide (Dia) 500 mumol.L-1 in vitro and calcium antagonist nifedipine (Nif) 125 mg.kg-1 ig were found to inhibit 4-AP induced histamine release from rat PMC. Electron microscopy revealed that 4-AP caused partial degranulation of PMC and extrusion of granules and Min 200 mg.kg-1 ig retarded this phenomenon. These results provide evidence that potassium channels are present in rat mast cell membrane and indicate that the mechanism of histamine release by 4-AP may be related to its potassium channel blocking effect. As a result of this effect, the calcium channels open and Ca2+ influx to the mast cells increases, thus eliciting histamine release. Potassium channel openers seemed to be a new group of inhibitors of histamine release from mast cells.