In vivo histamine release from brain cortex: the effects of modulating cellular and extracellular sodium and calcium...

The in vivo mechanisms underlying the actions of modulating Na(+)- and Ca(2+)-sensitive channels and its effect on basal histamine release in the cerebral cortex of freely-moving unanesthetized rats was investigated. Basal histamine release in the cerebral cortex was determined by in vivo microdialysis coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorometry detection. Basal levels of histamine were 0.67+/-0.02 pmol/10 microl of dialysate. Diltiazem, a Ca(2+) channel antagonist, produced a dose-dependent decrease in dialysate basal histamine concentration. Elevated K(+) (100 mM) in the perfusion medium increased basal histamine to a maximum of 223% of the baseline value. Similarly, diltiazem (60 mM) reduced the K(+), veratridine (100 microg/ml) and ouabain (100 microM)-evoked increase in dialysate histamine. Basal histamine decreased by 48% when the perfusate contained 3 microM of voltage dependent Na(+) antagonist tetrodotoxin. The results of these studies indicate that the release of histamine in rat cerebral cortex can be induced by modulating Na(+) and Ca(2+) channels and that the L-type voltage-dependent sensitive Ca(2+) channels are involved in this release process.