The present study was conducted to examine the characteristics of histamine on catecholamine secretion in the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland and to clarify the mechanism of its secretory action. Histamine (37.5 to 150 ug) injected into an adrenal...
The present study was conducted to examine the characteristics of histamine on catecholamine secretion in the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland and to clarify the mechanism of its secretory action. Histamine (37.5 to 150 ug) injected into an adrenal vein evoked a dose-dependent significant secretory response of catecholamines (CA) from the rat adrenal gland. However, upon the repeated injection of histamine (150 ug) at 120 min intervals, CA secretion was rapidly decreased after third injection of histamine. Tachyphylaxis to releasing effects of CA evoked by histamine was observed by the repeated administration. The histamine-induced CA secretion was markedly inhibited by the pretreatment with chlorisondamine, diphenhydramine, ranitidine, $Ca^{++}-free$ Krebs solution, nicardipine and TMB-8 while was not affected by pirenzepine. Moreover, the CA secretion evoked by ACh was considerably reduced by the prior perfusion of histamine $(6.8{\times}10^{-5} M)$ for 30 min. These experimental data suggest that histamine causes secretion of CA in a calcium dependent manner from the perfused rat adrenal gland and that its secretory effect is mediated through activation of both $H_1-$ and $H_2-histaminergic$ receptors located in adrenal medulla, which may be associated with stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors.