Regulation by histamine of cyclic nucleotide levels in sympathetic ganglia.

An investigation has been carried out of the role of histamine H1- and H2-receptors in the control of cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP) and cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels in blocks of bovine superior cervical ganglion. The data suggest that activation of H1-receptors is associated with cGMP accumulation and that activation of H2-receptors is associated with cGMP accumulation. Histamine increased both cGMP and cGMP levels with similar time course and concentration-response relationships. Low concentrations of the H1-receptor agonist 2-(2-aminoethyl)thiazole increased cGMP but not cAMP levels. Conversely low concentrations of the H2-receptor agonist 4-methylhistamine increased cAMP but not cGMP levels. H1-receptor antagonists blocked the histamine-induced increase in cGMP at low concentrations but blocked the cAMP increase only at substantially higher concentrations. Conversely, H2-receptor antagonists blocked the histamine-induced increased in cAMP but not cGMP. The effects of histamine on cyclic nucleotide levels did not appear to be mediated via the release of an endogenous neurotransmitter. The histamine-induced increase in cGMP appeared to be mediated through calcium: the increase in cGMP required the presence of calcium in the extracellular medium, and the calcium ionophore A23187 caused a calcium-dependent increase in cGMP. When considered with previous electrophysiological and biochemical findings in sympathetic ganglia, a correspondence can be seen: both histamine (at H1-receptors) and acetylcholine (at muscarinic receptors) raise cGMP levels and are associated with excitatory actions; both histamine (at H2- receptors) and dopamine raise cAMP levels and are associated with inhibitory actions.