A place for free radicals in platelet-derived histamine releasing factor (PDHRF) and evidence that histaminergic receptors modulate platelet aggregation.

The release of histamine from rat serosal mast cells induced by coincubation with resting and activated human platelets, or by exposure of mast cells to supernatants obtained from activated platelets, is significantly reduced by anti-free radical interventions, and is coupled with the generation of membrane lipid peroxidation products. These results suggest free radical participation in the activity of PDHRF. Human platelets possess specific binding sites for an H1-receptor antagonist, suggesting that H1-receptors could modulate the intracellular calcium levels in a pro-aggregatory fashion.