Depression of rat cerebral cortical neurones by H1 and H2 histamine receptor agonists.

Histamine (H) and H1 agonists 2-pyridylethylamine (PEA) and 2-methylhistamine (2-MH) produced a greater depression of the corticospinal and unidentified rat cerebral cortical neurones than did 4-methylhistamine (4-MH), an H2 agonist. Mepyramine antagonized the effects of 2-MH, PEA and H, and partially antagonized the depression induced by 4-MH. Metiamide and cimetidine, H2 antagonists, blocked 4-MH and H but not 2-MH- and PEA-induced depression. These results indicate that H-induced depression of cortical neurones involves activation of H1 and H2 receptors.