H2 receptors mediate cyclical chloride secretion in guinea pig distal colon

We tested the hypothesis that histamine mediates ion secretion in the guinea pig distal colon by stimulating H2 receptors on submucosal neurons. Serosal addition of histamine evoked a transient increase in short-circuit current (Isc) followed by recurrent cyclical increases in Isc. The transient phase of the response was examined previously and was not investigated in these studies. Histamine (1.5-2.5 x 10(-5) M) evoked a peak increase in Isc of 177 +/- 25 microA/cm2 at intervals of 5 min for 1-2 h. The duration of each recurrent cycle averaged 2.1 +/- 0.3 min. The H2 agonist dimaprit evoked recurrent cycles that had larger amplitudes than those caused by histamine. In the presence of histamine or dimaprit, the amplitude of the first cycle of the response was always less than subsequent cycles, regardless of the initial concentration. The cyclical responses to histamine, 2-methylhistamine, or dimaprit were unaltered by the H1 blocker pyrilamine, were reduced by the H2 antagonist cimetidine, and were abolished by the neuronal blocker tetrodotoxin. Blockade of prostaglandin formation with piroxicam did not prevent the recurrent cycles. The recurrent cycles were inhibited by the chloride transport blocker bumetanide and by removal of chloride ions. Our results demonstrate that histamine mediates prolonged cyclical chloride secretion in the guinea pig distal colon by activating H2 receptors on submucosal neurons involved in regulation of epithelial chloride transport.