Histamine receptors in mesenteric circulation of the cat and rat.

This study was designed to ascertain the types and functions of histamine receptors in the mesenteric circulation of the cat and rat. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) flow was measured via an electromagnetic probe in the cat and intestinal submucosal arteriolar diameter by an image-splitting in vivo microscopy technique in the cat and rat. Histamine infusion into the SMA caused dose-dependent decreases in mesenteric vascular resistance. Mepyramine, an H1 receptor antagonist (H1A), inhibited this effect, displacing the histamine dose-response curve to the right. Metiamide, an H2 receptor antagonist (H2A), alone had no effect, but in the presence of H1A caused further displacement of the curve to the right. In both the cat and the rat, histamine superfusion dilated the submucosal arterioles. H1A attenuated this effect. H2A alone had no effect, but in the presence of H1A there was nearly complete inhibition of the histamine effect. In conclusion, both H1 and H2 histamine receptors, both subserving vasodilatation, are present in the mesenteric circulation and the H1 receptor effect predominates.