Modulation of histamine release in the rat brain by kappa-opioid receptors

The opioid modulation of histamine release was studied in rat brain slices labeled with L-[3H]histidine. The K(+)-induced [3H]histamine release from cortical slices was progressively inhibited by the preferential kappa-agonists ketocyclazocine, dynorphin A (1-13), Cambridge 20, spiradoline, U50,488H, and U69,593 in increasing concentrations. In contrast, the mu-agonists morphine, morphiceptin, and Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(NMe)Phe-Gly-ol (DAGO) were ineffective as were the preferential delta-agonists [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DA-DLE) and [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE). Nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) and MR 2266, two preferential kappa-antagonists, reversed the inhibitory effect of the various kappa-agonists more potently than did naloxone, with mean Ki values of 4 nM and 25 nM, respectively. The effects of ketocyclazocine and naloxone also were seen in slices of rat striatum, another brain region known to contain histaminergic nerve endings. We conclude that kappa-opioid receptors, presumably located on histaminergic axons, control histamine release in the brain. However, nor-BNI and naloxone failed, when added alone, to enhance significantly [3H]histamine release from cerebral cortex or striatum, and bestatin, an aminopeptidase inhibitor, failed to decrease K(+)-evoked [3H]histamine release. These two findings suggest that under basal conditions these kappa-opioid receptors are not tonically activated by endogenous dynorphin peptides. The inhibition of cerebral histamine release by kappa-agonists may mediate the sedative actions of these agents in vivo.