Volume flow, hydraulic conductivity and electrical properties across bovine tracheal epithelium in vitro: effect of histamine.

Volume flow (Jv), potential difference (delta psi), short-circuit current (io) and electrical resistance (R) were measured simultaneously across bovine tracheal epithelium in vitro. Under basal conditions, with no applied hydrostatic or osmotic pressure gradients (delta P = 0, delta phi = 0), no spontaneous Jv was observed. delta psi was 31 +/- 2 mV (lumen negative ), io 161 +/- 8 microA cm-2 and R 202 +/- 9 omega cm2, n = 50. When a delta pi was applied, by adding 20 - 80 mM sucrose into the medium bathing either the luminal or the serosal side of the tissue, a linear relationship was found between delta pi and Jv toward the lumen or toward the serosa. The apparent hydraulic conductivity (apparent Lp) was 4.6 - 4.9 10(-6) cms-1 atm-1. Histamine 10(-4) M did not induce any spontaneous Jv under basal conditions and had no effect on io nor on R. However, histamine caused a 100% increase in Jv elicited by sucrose gradients. It was concluded that histamine exerts a selective action on the hydraulic conductivity of bovine tracheal epithelium. Experiments using H1-receptors antagonists (diphenhydramine, dimetindene, chloropyramine) and H2-antagonists (cimetidine, metiamide) or a H2-agonist (impromidine) showed that the increase of Lp induced by histamine was mediated via H2-receptors.