Effect of endogenous and synthetic antioxidants on hydrogen peroxide-induced guinea-pig colon contraction.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: The effects of the endogenous antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid on guinea pig colon smooth muscle contraction (Gpcc) induced by hydrogen peroxide were examined. Having previously shown that the histone deacetylase (HDAC) benzamide inhibitor MGCD0103 inhibits guinea-pig smooth muscle contraction, as do various sulfur-containing antioxidants, we asked whether hybrid compounds possessing both alpha-lipoic acid-derived antioxidant properties and HDAC inhibitory activity could inhibit Gpcc. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Guinea pig colon (Gpc) was incubated at 37 degrees C with Krebs buffer; the four stimulants-hydrogen peroxide, carbachol, histamine, and sodium fluoride-were added independently. The response to each stimulant alone was compared with that in the presence of each of the test compounds: MGCD0103, alpha-lipoic acid, and two of their hybrids, UCL M084 and UCL M109. RESULTS: NaF (10 mM), carbachol (0.05 microM), histamine (0.1 microM), and hydrogen peroxide (1 microM) produced Gpcc of about 50-60% above basal level. With the exception of MGCD0103 against hydrogen peroxide, all four test compounds at 1 microM-MGCD0103, alpha-lipoic acid, UCL M084, and UCL M109-produced a significant inhibition of 35-60% of Gpcc induced by hydrogen peroxide, NaF, and carbachol, although none reduced histamine or ovalbumin-induced Gpcc. Benzalkonium chloride (Bcl), a G-protein inhibitor, reduced the hydrogen peroxide-induced Gpcc by 35%. CONCLUSIONS: Contraction by stimulants used to induce Gpcc is known to involve G-proteins. All four test compounds-MGCD0103, alpha-lipoic acid and two of their hybrids, UCL M084 and UCL M109-reduced Gpcc induced by NaF and carbachol, suggesting that G-protein pathway involvement is relevant to the action of the test compounds, as is also indicated by the Bcl-induced inhibition of hydrogen peroxide-induced contractions. Additionally, alpha-lipoic acid and the two hybrids showed >30% inhibition of hydrogen peroxide-induced contractions, consistent with the antioxidant properties of the 1,2-dithiolane ring.

Desensitization of histamine H1 receptor-mediated inositol phosphate production in HeLa cells.

1. Histamine stimulated the accumulation of total [3H]-inositol phosphates (IPn) in control HeLa cells with an EC50 of 3.7 +/- 0.7 microM in the presence of 10 mM LiCl. The maximum response to histamine after 15 min incubation was 43 +/- 5% over basal accumulation and occurred at a concentration of 1 mM histamine. 2. The histamine-induced IPn production in HeLa cells was confirmed as H1 receptor-mediated, since the H1 antagonist mepyramine (10(-6) M) inhibited the histamine response (10(-4) M) by 83 +/- 7%, whereas the H2 antagonist, ranitidine (10(-4) M), and H3 antagonist, thioperamide (10(-6) M), were ineffective. 3. Histamine (10(-4) M) pretreatment of HeLa cells for 30 min desensitized the subsequent histamine-induced IPn accumulation. The desensitized cells accumulated IPn in response to histamine with an EC50 of 1.7 +/- 0.7 microM after 15 min incubation. The maximum histamine-induced IPn accumulation at 10(-4) M was 19 +/- 5% over basal and was significantly lower (P < 0.03) than the maximum response in control cells. 4. The desensitization of histamine-induced IPn accumulation was time-dependent and, at a desensitizing histamine concentration of 10(-4) M, the half-maximal attenuation occurred after approximately 9 min and maximum desensitization was achieved by 15-20 min. The desensitization of the IPn accumulation was a reversible phenomenon and full recovery of the response occurred 150 min after the removal of the desensitizing histamine-containing medium. The half-time for the recovery of the histamine-induced response was estimated at 120 min. 5. Bradykinin stimulated IPn, accumulation in HeLa cells, and the ECm in control cells of 1.9 +/- 0.2 nM was not significantly different from the EC50 value from histamine-pretreated cells of 1.6 +/- 0.9 nM. The bradykinin response at 1 microM was 194 +/- 48% over basal IPn accumulation in control cells and this value was significantly different (P <0.04) from the 1 microM bradykinin-induced IPn accumulation in histamine pretreated HeLa cells of 143 +/- 38% over basal.6. NaF stimulated IP,, accumulation in control HeLa cells in a dose-related manner, with the maximum effect occurring at 15-20 mM. The EC50 value for NaF-stimulated IPn accumulation in control cells was 10.5 +/- 1.1 mm and the maximum response was 136 +/- 41% over basal after 20 min incubation. In histamine desensitized HeLa cells the EC50 value for NaF was 12.3 +/- 0.4 mM after 20 min stimulation,which was not significantly different from the value obtained in control cells. The maximum NaF stimulated IPn formation in desensitized cells of 68 +/- 23% over basal occurred at 15 -20 mM and was significantly lower (P<0.01) than that obtained in control cells.7. We show here that the acute histamine pretreatment of HeLa cells results in the desensitization of histamine H1 receptor-mediated IPn production. The desensitization was not restricted to the H1 receptor-mediated signal transduction pathway, but also includes both the bradykinin- and NaF mediated responses, supporting a heterologous desensitization mechanism. Our results are consistent with the site of attenuation being at or distal to the G-protein and the underlying mechanism being a slowed time-course for the production of inositol phosphates.

Histamine H1 receptor-induced Ca2+ mobilization and prostaglandin E2 release in human gingival fibroblasts. Possible role of receptor-operated Ca2+ influx.

Stimulation of human gingival fibroblasts with histamine elicited an increase in the intracellular concentration of free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The histamine-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was attenuated completely by chlorpheniramine, an H1 antagonist, but not by cimetidine, an H2 antagonist. The histamine-induced Ca2+ response consisted of an initial transient peak response and a subsequent sustained increase. The transient phase can be largely attributed to Ca2+ release from intracellular InsP3-sensitive stores since the increased [Ca2+]i effect of histamine completely disappeared after depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The sustained phase was due to Ca2+ influx which was attenuated in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The Ca2+ influx required the continuous binding of histamine to the receptor, since chlorpheniramine attenuated the increase in [Ca2+]i observed when extracellular Ca2+ was re-applied to the cells after stimulation with histamine in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Pretreatment with the Ca2+ channel blocker SK&F96365 inhibited the Ca2+ influx component, suggesting that histamine stimulates Ca2+ influx through an H1 receptor-operated Ca2+ channel. Histamine also evoked a concentration- and time-dependent release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The histamine-evoked PGE2 release was reduced markedly by exclusion of extracellular Ca2+ or pretreatment with SK&F96365 or an H1 antagonist. These results indicate that histamine stimulates both the intracellular Ca2+ release from InsP3-sensitive stores and the H1 receptor-operated Ca2+ influx from extracellular sites. The increased [Ca2+]i due to the Ca2+ influx causes PGE2 release in human gingival fibroblasts.

Yawning/cortical activation induced by microinjection of histamine into the paraventricular nucleus of the rat.

The effects of microinjection of histamine into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus on yawning responses were investigated in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing rats. Yawning responses were evaluated by monitoring the intercostal electromyogram (EMG) as an index of inspiratory activity and digastric EMG as an indicator of mouth opening. We also recorded the electrocorticogram (ECoG) to determine the arousal response during yawning. Autonomic function was evaluated by measuring blood pressure and heart rate. Microinjection of histamine into the medial parvocellular subdivision (mp) of the PVN elicited a yawning response, i.e. a single large inspiration with mouth opening, and an arousal shift in ECoG to lower voltage and faster rhythms. Microinjection of HTMT dimaleate, an H1 receptor agonist, into the PVN also caused the yawning/arousal response. Pretreatment with pyrilamine, an H1 receptor antagonist, inhibited the histamine induced yawning behavior. These data demonstrate that a histamine receptive site for triggering yawning/arousal responses exists in the PVN, and suggest that these responses are mediated by activation of H1 receptor within the PVN.

Effects of H1 antagonists on cholinomimetic-induced tremulous jaw movements: studies of diphenhydramine, doxepin, and mepyramine.

In several previous studies, tremulous jaw movements in rats have been used to assess the effects of antiparkinsonian drugs and atypical antipsychotics. Because antihistamines such as diphenhydramine are used as antiparkinsonian agents, and atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine and olanzapine have high affinity for histamine H1 receptors, the present study investigated the effects of H1 antagonists on cholinomimetic-induced jaw movements. Diphenhydramine, doxepin, and mepyramine (all injected IP 2.5-20.0 mg/kg) were assessed for their ability to block the jaw movements induced by 5.0 mg/kg of the anticholinesterase tacrine. Within this dose range, only diphenhydramine produced a robust and significant reduction in jaw movement activity. Thus, diphenhydramine was subjected to further testing, which employed procedures previously used to assess the effects of other antitremorogenic drugs, such as clozapine. Diphenhydramine did not induce jaw movement activity. In addition to suppressing jaw movement activity after acute injections, diphenhydramine also suppressed tacrine-induced jaw movements after repeated (14-day) administration. In summary, the present results show that diphenhydramine suppresses cholinomimetic-induced jaw movements, an effect that is similar to other antiparkinsonian or antitremor drugs such as anticholinergics, L-DOPA, DA antagonists, and clozapine. Nevertheless, doxepin produced only mild effects, and mepyramine, which has a higher affinity and selectivity than diphenhydramine for H1 receptors, failed to suppress cholinomimetic-induced jaw movements. These results suggest that diphenhydramine suppresses tremulous movements through a mechanism that does not depend upon antagonism of histamine H1 receptors.

Histaminergic effect of crude papaya latex on isolated guinea pig ileal strips.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of the crude latex of Carica papaya L. (CPX) on isolated guinea pig ileal strips. CPX (0.5-512 microg/ml) caused concentration-dependent contraction of ileal strips suspended in Tyrode solution. The concentration of atropine (0.69 microM) that significantly blocked the contractile effect of acetylcholine on the isolated guinea pig ileum showed no significant effect on CPX- and histamine-induced contractions of the ileal strips. Mepyramine (87.6 nM) significantly blocked the contractile effect of histamine and CPX on the ileum. The same concentration of mepyramine, however, had no significant effect on acetylcholine-induced contraction of the isolated ileal strips. Removal of Ca2+ from the bathing medium abolished ileal contractions induced by acetylcholine, histamine and CPX. All the test substances were able to provoke ileal contractions after replacement of the Ca(2+)-free solution with Tyrode solution. Furthermore, 10(-5) M of nifedipine, a Ca(2+)-entry antagonist, reversibly inhibited the contractile effect of all the test substances on the ileal strips. Results of this study together appear to show that CPX-induced contraction of the isolated guinea pig ileum is mediated via H1-receptors and dependent on extracellular Ca2+ influx.