Mechanism of the indirect adrenergic effect of histamine in cat cerebral arteries

KCl (50 mM), tyramine (10(-7) M), and histamine (10(-4) M) induced an increase in tritium release from cat cerebral arteries preincubated with [3H]noradrenaline, this increase being due in part to noradrenaline. When calcium was absent from the superfusion medium, only tyramine (10(-7) M) enhanced the tritium outflow. Colchicine (10(-3) M) partially inhibited the increase in radioactivity brought about by 10(-4) M histamine. KCl (50 mM) also evoked release of radioactivity from cerebral arteries preloaded with [3H]histamine; this release was unaffected by reserpine pretreatment or removal of both superior cervical sympathetic ganglia. Neither tyramine (10(-7) M) nor compound 48/80 (300 micrograms ml-1) altered the spontaneous tritium outflow from cerebral blood vessels preincubated with [3H]histamine. These results suggest that histamine is not accumulated by sympathetic nerve endings and elicits its noradrenaline-releasing effect by means of an exocytotic process.     

Characterization of the subtype of presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors modulating noradrenaline release in cat and bovine cerebral arteries.

The possible existence of a heterogeneous population of alpha 2-adrenoceptors (alpha 2A and alpha 2B, demonstrated by binding studies) in adrenergic nerve endings of cat and bovine cerebral arteries modulating noradrenaline release was investigated. Electrical field stimulation elicited an increase of tritium secretion from these vessels preincubated with (+/-)-[3H]noradrenaline, which was reduced by the alpha 2-agonists, clonidine (1 microM) and B-HT 920 (0.01 and 0.1 microM), in cat cerebral arteries but only by B-HT 920 in bovine cerebral arteries. This reduction was inhibited by the antagonist of the alpha 2B-subtype, prazosin, and the antagonists of alpha 2A- and alpha 2B-subtypes yohimbine and particularly rauwolscine. The effect of B-HT 920 was partially inhibited by clonidine in bovine, but not in cat cerebral arteries. In both types of arteries, prazosin, yohimbine and the alpha 1-agonist methoxamine (all at 1 microM) failed to modify the stimulated radioactivity liberation, whereas it was increased by 1 microM rauwolscine, and by yohimbine plus prazosin in cat cerebral arteries. The basal tritium release was enhanced by rauwolscine and prazosin in cat cerebral arteries but only by the latter in bovine cerebral arteries. These results suggest: (1) the existence of presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors, mainly of the alpha 2B-subtype, in these vessels negatively modulating noradrenaline release, their activity being greater in cat than in bovine cerebral arteries, and (2) clonidine has no agonistic but a weak antagonistic action in the latter vessels.     

Species and tissue differences of histamine storage and release

Histamine release by compound 48/80 was studied in vivo and in vitro in different tissues of the cat and rat. A good correlation was fond between both kinds of experiment. The histamine stores in the cat salivary gland are poorly sensitive to this histamine-liberating substance. In vitro studies with heart and lungs of the rat and guinea pig showed no correlation between the spontaneous histamine release and the release induced by compound 48/80. This finding suggests the existence of two pools of tissue histamine, both with different storage and release properties, and most probably with different functions in the body.     

Increase of plasma renin activity after subcutaneous application of compound 48/80 in the rat

Subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of compound 48/80 (3.0 mg/kg) to conscious rats produced a time-dependent long-lasting increase of plasma renin activity (PRA). A dose-related increase of the hematocrit was also observed after injection of compound 48/80. The onset of the hematocrit increase preceded that of PRA increase. Pretreatment with a dose of more than 20 mg/kg of histamine H1-receptor antagonists such as tripelennamine or diphenhydramine prior to the injection of compound 48/80 (3.0 mg/kg s.c.) attenuated or abolished the effects of compound 48/80 on PRA, hematocrit and plasma extravasation. Pretreatment with cimetidine (histamine H2-receptor antagonist, 40 mg/kg i.p.) had no effect on these plasma variables. The increase of PRA caused by s.c. administration of compound 48/80 was not affected by the pretreatment with propranolol (beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, 10 mg/kg i.p.), which completely inhibited the isoproterenol (0.5 mg/kg s.c.)-induced PRA increase. Administration of compound 48/80 did not induce a significant PRA increase in the nephrectomized rats although the increase of hematocrit following s.c. administration of compound 48/80 persisted despite the absence of kidneys. S.c. administration of compound 48/80 (3.0 mg/kg) led to a significant decrease of histamine content at the site of injection and to a significant increase in plasma histamine concentration without affecting arterial blood pressure. The present data suggest that s.c. administration of compound 48/80 stimulates the release of histamine from cutaneous mast cells, which cause an increase in vascular permeability to plasma protein via the stimulation of histamine H1-receptors, then leads to hypovolemia. The resulting hypovolemia may directly stimulate the juxtraglomerular cells of the kidney to release renin.     

Effects of capsaicin on vascular smooth muscle

Acute administration of capsaicin in vitro produced either vascular smooth muscle contraction (cat middle cerebral artery) or smooth muscle relaxation (guinea pig carotid artery and thoracic aorta). Prior in vivo treatment with capsaicin abolished the relaxation response of guinea pig vessels to acute capsaicin. Instead a contractile response was seen after chronic capsaicin treatment, suggesting that the relaxation response produced by capsaicin is due to release of a vasodilator substance. Substance P caused relaxation in both cat cerebral arteries and the guinea pig thoracic aorta, an effect which was abolished or reduced by endothelial damage. However, responses to acute capsaicin were not altered by endothelial damage, suggesting that substance P does not mediate the relaxation response to acute capsaicin administration. Exposure to capsaicin in vitro did not affect the neurogenic vasodilator response of cat cerebral arteries and did not alter substance P levels. Therefore, it was concluded that the acute effect of capsaicin is composed of two components. A contractile response is most likely due to direct effects on vascular smooth muscle, while a relaxation response is attributed to release of an as yet unidentified bioactive substance distinct from substance P.     

Mechanisms of histamine release by compound 48/80

1. Rat and guinea-pig lung tissues were incubated for 20 min at 37 degrees C in Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer at pH 7.4, or in Tyrode-Tris buffer at pH 8.2, and the release of histamine produced by adding different concentrations of compound 48/80 to the incubation medium was determined.2. At pH 7.4, increasing concentrations of 48/80 increased the release of histamine from the rat lung, with a tendency towards a maximum. No release of histamine from guinea-pig lung was observed at this pH. At pH 8.2, histamine release occurred both from rat and guinea-pig lung, and was proportional to the logarithm of the concentration of compound 48/80.3. Histamine release from rat lung by 20 mug/ml. of 48/80 decreased when the pH was raised from 7.4 to 8.2; but the release caused by 1 mg/ml. of 48/80 increased both in rat and guinea-pig lung as the pH was raised.4. 2-4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) inhibited the release of histamine from rat lung by a concentration of 20 mug/ml. of 48/80; the inhibition was prevented by glucose. DNP did not affect histamine release from rat or guinea-pig lung by a concentration of 1 mg/ml. of 48/80 and enhanced the release when the pH was raised from 7.4 to 8.2.5. 1 mg/ml. of 48/80 did not inhibit the enhanced oxygen consumption produced by DNP in the isolated rat diaphragm.6. Iodoacetic acid (IAA) or a Ca/Mg-free medium inhibited the release of histamine by 20 mug/ml. of 48/80 from rat lung but not the release produced by 1 mg/ml. in either rat or guinea-pig lung.7. The degranulation of rat mesentery mast cells caused by 20 mug/ml. of compound 48/80 was inhibited by DNP. The degranulation evoked by 1 mg/ml. of 48/80 was also sensitive to this inhibitor; in this instance, however, the metachromatic staining reaction of the mesentery mast cells was greatly diminished.8. It is concluded that two processes of histamine release by compound 48/80 occur in rat lung. One, dependent on cell metabolism, involves, mast cell granule secretion. The other, independent of cell metabolism, seems to consist of a simple exchange reaction between histamine and compound 48/80, and this is the only one occurring in guinea-pig lung.     

A toxic substance from the sea urchin Toxopneustes pileolus induces histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells.

A toxic substance (P-II fraction), fractionated from the pedicellariae of the sea urchin Toxopneustes pileolus, dose-dependently caused the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. The histamine release induced by P-II fraction increased with time, while compound 48/80 caused a more rapid histamine release. The dose-response curve for P-II fraction was studied with concentration 0.03-2.0 mg/ml. This reaction was dependent on Ca2+ and temperature. When glucose (5.5 mM) was omitted during the incubation step, the histamine release induced by P-II fraction was significantly reduced as compared to that of compound 48/80. Pyruvate reversed this reduction. On the other hand, the histamine release induced by P-II fraction was effectively potentiated by the addition of glucose (11.0 mM), but not that by compound 48/80. These results suggest that P-II fraction-induced histamine release differs from that of compound 48/80 disregards to the effects of glucose, because this histamine release appears to be more sensitive to the glycolytic pathway than compound 48/80-induced histamine release.     

Plasma histamine and catecholamine levels during hypotension induced by morphine and compound 48/80

Histamine receptors are present in adrenergic terminals, and histamine is reported to inhibit release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) at certain neuroeffector junctions. However, a physiological role for histamine in modifying adrenergic neurotransmission has not been established. To examine the interaction of elevated plasma histamine and catecholamine release, two compounds that release histamine, morphine (3 mg/kg), and compound 48/80 (0.5 mg/kg), were administered intravenously (i.v.). Plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels were used to monitor sympathetic nervous system activity, and plasma epinephrine (Epi) levels were used to monitor adrenal activity. Both morphine and compound 48/80 caused an immediate and marked increase in plasma histamine. Simultaneous with this increase, a marked decrease in mean arterial pressure occurred. Plasma NE levels increased in animals administered compound 48/80, but in morphine-treated animals, plasma NE levels did not change from pretreatment values. Plasma Epi levels increased in both groups, but the magnitude and duration of the responses differed. The results indicate that elevated plasma catecholamines can increase in response to histamine-induced hypotension but this effect can be suppressed by the central actions of morphine.     

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on the histamine release induced by compound 48/80 and cardiac anaphylaxis in guinea-pig isolated heart

Histamine release from guinea pig heart treated with compound 48/80 was potentiated by the cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin and piroxicam but not by aspirin or phenylbutazone. This differential effect suggests that the potentiation is not merely due to an inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Piroxicam potentiated the histamine release induced by cardiac anaphylaxis whereas indomethacin reduced this effect. The SRS-A antagonist FPL 55712 inhibited histamine release induced by cardiac anaphylaxis, but not that evoked by compound 48/80, and also prevented the potentiation due to indomethacin and piroxicam. In total, these data suggest that the potentiation of histamine release by piroxicam and indomethacin is probably due to a diversion of arachidonic acid metabolism from the cyclooxygenase to the lipoxygenase pathways. The resulting lipoxygenase products may then regulate histamine release, with the secretion due to antigen being more sensitive to such modulation than that evoked by compound 48/80.     

Inhibition of compound 48/80-mediated histamine release from isolated rat mast cells by oosponol-related compounds (4-acyl-isocoumarins).

Oosponol (4-hydroxymethylketone-8-hydroxyisocoumarin) is a metabolic product isolated from Oospora astringens which originated from house dust in a room of an asthmatic patient. The compound and the structurally related isocoumarins were studied to determine the inhibition of histamine release induced by compound 48/80 from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells. The released histamine was assayed by fluorometry. The compounds tested were not observed to release histamine. Some of 4-acyl-isocoumarins inhibited the histamine release at doses less than 10 micrometers, whereas the 3-acyl- and the 4-alkyl-compounds were not effective at doses over 100 microns. The pretreatment of mast cell with the compound for 15 min before the application of compound 48/80 was more effective than the simultaneous administration. The mode of inhibitory action of KIT-302, 4-(4'-carboxy-benzoyl)-isocoumarin, was non-competitive antagonism to compound 48/80 on the mast cells.     

Inhibition of Neutral Endopeptidase Potentiates Compound 48/80-induced Constriction of Guinea-pig Tracheal Smooth Muscle

Summary: Our previous studies have shown that the inhibition of neutral endopeptidase, an enzyme which degrades tachykinins, increases anaphylactic constriction of guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle. To investigate this observation further, we examined the effects of phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of a neutral endopeptidase, on constriction induced by the non-immunological mast cell degranulator-compound 48/80. Phosphoramidon produced significant leftward shift of the compound 48/80 concentration-response curve with corresponding decrease in the EC₅₀ value from 51(28-80) μg/ml to 42(20-72) μg/ml. When added during the compound 48/80-induced constriction, phosphoramidon significantly increased the magnitude of this constriction by 69.7% after 30 min, and 78.9% after 45 min. Phosphoramidon was ineffective in tracheal rings from tachykinin-depleted guinea-pigs. The incubation of tracheal rings with H₁-histamine receptor antagonist (diphenhydramine HCl, 10 μM) and leukotriene receptor antagonist (ICI 198.615, 5 μM) significantly diminished the contractile response to compound 48/80 and prevented a phosphoramidon-dependent increase of this constriction. These results suggest that compound 48/80 induces the release of tachykinins by the stimulatory activity of histamine and leukotrienes. Anaphylactic release of tachykinins would therefore not depend directly on the antigen-antibody reaction.     

Dual regulation of the Na+/H(+)-exchange in rat peritoneal mast cells: role of protein kinase C and calcium on pHi regulation and histamine release.

1. The purpose of this study was to compare the actions of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin on Na+/H+ exchange activation and histamine release to that of compound 48/80 in order to study the possible relationship between pHi and secretion of histamine in rat peritoneal mast cells. 2. Resting pHi in mast cells suspended in a bicarbonate-free physiological salt solution amounted to 6.73 +/- 0.05 (mean +/- s.d., n = 52). 3. PMA (20 nM) induced a substantial but rather slow increase in pHi. This response was very sensitive to inhibition by staurosporine, very sensitive to inhibition by 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA), insensitive to the absence of extracellular calcium (without EGTA), and sensitive to partial depletion of intracellular calcium with EGTA. 4. Ionomycin (1 microM) induced a biphasic change in pHi that was sensitive to inhibition by HMA, insensitive to staurosporine. In the absence of extracellular calcium using EGTA, the biphasic response disappeared, leaving only a slow, and diminished change in pHi. 5. The effects of ionomycin and PMA on pHi were additive. 6. Addition of the secretagogue compound 48/80 (1 microgram ml-1) increased pHi, substantially, delta pHi amounting to 0.29 +/- 0.05 pH-units (n = 4). The biphasic pHi-response was insensitive to the absence of extracellular calcium (without EGTA). The initial fast response in pHi was, however, inhibited by HMA, not staurosporine. 7. The finding that staurosporine and HMA each inhibited approximately half of the compound 48/80-induced pHi-response, whereas both inhibitors completely abolished the compound 48/80-induced pHi-response seems to indicate that two independent pathways for the activation of the Na+/H+ exchange were stimulated by compound 48/80. 8. The histamine release induced via both PKC activation (using PMA) and calcium (using ionomycin) were much larger than the sum of each activation pathway, whereas in the absence of extracellular calcium using EGTA, the histamine release in response to PMA and ionomycin was completely abolished. 9. The compound 48/80-induced histamine release was partially sensitive to inhibition by HMA (approximately 30% inhibition) and partially sensitive to inhibition by staurosporine (approximately 50% inhibition). Preincubation with staurosporine and HMA before stimulation with compound 48/80 showed the same degree of inhibition as observed after staurosporine alone, even though this combination of drugs completely inhibited the pHi-response. Furthermore, compound 48/80-induced histamine release was not dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium (with and without EGTA). 10. In spite of the similarities in second messenger pathways for pHi regulation and histamine release, it is, however, not very likely that these two processes are directly related. It is, however, possible, that an increase in pHi plays a permissive, rather than an essential role for histamine release in rat peritoneal mast cells. This hypothesis was supported by the finding that preincubation with the Na+/H+ exchange-inhibitor HMA inhibited 30% of the compound 48/80-induced histamine secretion.     

Inhibitory effects of Moutan cortex on immediate allergic reactions

The anti-allergic effect of an ethanol extract from Moutan Cortex was evaluated in some animal models. The Moutan Cortex extract (30, 100 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently inhibited systemic anaphylactic shock induced by compound 48/80 in mice. It also inhibited dose-dependently the scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 or histamine at a dose of 100 mg/kg. An increase in the vascular permeability induced by compound 48/80 or histamine was also inhibited by the Moutan Cortex. In addition, in vitro studies, the Moutan Cortex inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80. To investigate the active component of Moutan Cortex extract, it was suspended in water and extracted with EtOAc to yield EtOAc insoluble (A) and soluble (B) fractions. The effect of extract (B) was more potent than that of extract (A) in inhibiting histamine release. From these findings, it seems likely that the Moutan Cortex extract is effective in antagonizing certain pharmacological effects induced by compound 48/80, which is probably mediated by inhibiting the release of histamine from mast cells and antagonizing the effect on histamine. The main active component of Moutan Cortex is considered to be contained in extract (B). In conclusion, Moutan Cortex may be useful for the relief of symptoms of atopic dermatitis and other allergy-related diseases.     

Analysis of the effects of noradrenaline and tyramine in isolated middle cerebral and femoral arteries of cat

1. Tyramine and noradrenaline (NA) caused dose-dependent contractions in middle cerebral and femoral arteries of cat, which were decreased by phentolamine. 2. Gangliectomy increased the contraction evoked by NA in brain arteries. 3. Reserpine pretreatment and/or gangliectomy reduced the contraction caused by tyramine, the maximal responses being unmodified in the cerebral vessels. 4. Tyramine induced Ca2+-dependent tritium release from brain and femoral arteries, which was reduced by reserpine pretreatment and/or gangliectomy. 5. These data suggest that tyramine has a direct component, apart from an indirect one, in brain arteries. The mechanisms by which NA induces slight contraction in them, including the role of Ca2+, are postulated.     

Effect of tetraethylammonium and verapamil on noradrenaline release induced by field electrical stimulation and potassium from cat cerebral and femoral arteries

Tritium release evoked by field electrical stimulation (FES) or high potassium (K+) from cat cerebral and femoral arteries prelabelled with 3H-noradrenaline was investigated. The release induced by FES and K+ was reduced by Ca2+ suppression and tetrodotoxin (TTX) but not by verapamil in both vessels. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) increased tritium release evoked by FES and K+, when TTX plus TEA were added together radioactivity secretion induced by FES was practically abolished. These results indicate that FES or K+ induce exocytotic noradrenaline release mainly by propagated action potentials and by similar mechanisms in cerebral and femoral arteries.     

Compound 48/80 elicits cholinergic contraction through histamine release in the chick oesophagus

1. The effects of compound 48/80 on cholinergic nerve transmission and on the liberation of histamine in the isolated chick oesophagus were investigated. 2. Compound 48/80 (0.2-1 microgram ml-1) potentiated the cholinergic nerve-induced contraction and caused the contraction of the oesophagus itself. The latter response was prevented by atropine, tetrodotoxin and mepyramine but not by metiamide. 3. Compound 48/80 released dose-dependently endogenous histamine from the isolated chick oesophagus. 4. These results suggest that the action of compound 48/80 is mediated by the release of histamine from an endogenous pool and that histamine released endogenously facilitates the release of ACh from the intrinsic cholinergic nerve in the chick oesophagus.     

Inhibitory effect of a novel anticomplementary agent, K-76COONa, on the release of histamine induced by zymosan and compound 48/80

A novel sesquiterpene anticomplementary agent, K-76COONa, if locally applied, was revealed to have an activity to prevent histamine release from rat connective tissue mast cells not only in a zymosan-induced inflammation of the air pouch type (zymosan-air-pouch inflammation) but also in compound 48/80-induced air-pouch inflammation. Moreover, K-76COONa inhibited in vitro histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80.     

Increased Utilization of Endogenous ATP in Isolated Rat Mast Cells during Histamine Release Induced by Compound 48/80

Abstract: In order to investigate whether the energy dependence of histamine release induced by compound 48/80 from isolated rat mast cells reflects an increased utilization of ATP during the release process, the ATP content in samples of mast cells was determined 5 sec. before and 25 sec. after the addition of compound 48/80. No change in the ATP content was found when histamine release was induced from cells with an intact energy metabolism. However, when the cells had been preincubated for 1 min. with antimycin A to inhibit oxidative production of ATP, histamine release was accompanied by a greater reduction (P < 0.005) in the ATP content than that observed in the control samples. In contrast, when corresponding experiments were performed with chlorpromazine or n-decylamine as releasing agent, the ATP content was not lower in the samples in which histamine release had been induced than in the controls, regardless of whether antimycin A was present or not. The results indicate that histamine release from rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80, but not by chlorpromazine or n-decylamine, is accompanied by an increased utilization of ATP in the cells.     

Effect of TMB-8 on calcium transport in mast cells in relation to histamine secretion

We have previously reported an inhibition of histamine release by TMB-8 both in the presence and absence of calcium and with glucose in the medium. In the present investigation we have studied the effect of TMB-8 on calcium transport. The observations show that TMB-8 inhibits calcium uptake and enhances calcium efflux in mast cells. As antigen-induced histamine release from sensitized mast cells is primarily dependent on extracellular calcium, the inhibition of anaphylactic histamine release by TMB-8 is probably mainly due to an inhibition of calcium influx into the mast cells. We have shown an increased calcium efflux during histamine release from mast cells induced by compound 48/80 in the absence of calcium in the medium, suggesting the release of intracellular calcium stores. The increased calcium efflux was not inhibited by TMB-8. On the contrary, the enhanced calcium efflux caused by compound 48/80, was added to that by TMB-8. TMB-8 thus had no effect on the calcium release from intracellular stores by compound 48/80 but the enhanced calcium efflux by TMB-8 would tend to inhibit histamine release.     

Different influence of endothelium in the mechanical responses of human and cat isolated cerebral arteries to several agents.

The present work was undertaken to elucidate the role of the vascular endothelium in the changes of isometric tension elicited by different compounds in isolated cylinders of human and cat cerebral arteries and cat pulmonary arteries. Endothelium removal by rubbing significantly reduced the relaxing response to acetylcholine (ACh) of isolated segments of all the arteries. The same treatment did not modify the contraction elicited by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the human and cat cerebral segments but increased the contractile effect of the amine in cat pulmonary arteries. The mechanical responses to vasopressin, ATP and adenosine in isolated segments of cat cerebral arteries were unaffected after removing the endothelial layer. L-Arginine, but not D-arginine (10(-5) M), enhanced significantly the relaxation induced by increasing doses of ACh in unrubbed cat cerebral arteries whereas it did not modify the response to ACh in rubbed ones. However, L-arginine had no effect on the dose-response curve to 5-HT in both kinds of preparation and did not change the tone in precontracted unrubbed cat cerebral segments. These results suggest that the endothelium of the cerebrovascular bed plays a minor role in regulating the mechanical response induced by several vasoactive agents, although it retains its ability to produce an endothelium-derived relaxing factor.