Plasma vasopressin levels after I.C.V. infusion of histamine agonists in the conscious goat.

Histamine H1-agonists 2-pyridylethylamine (2-PEA) and 2-methylhistamine and H2-agonists 4-methylhistamine, dimaprit and impromidine were given i.c.v. to conscious goats and the release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) was measured. 2-PEA at very low doses (9 and 27 mumoles/animal, equivalent to H1-activity of about 0.5 and 1.5 mumoles histamine, resp.) significantly increased plasma AVP. The H2-agonists did not cause consistent changes in AVP even if their relative doses were higher. It is concluded that the vasopressin releasing effect of histamine is due to H1-receptor activation.