Endothelium and mechanical responses of isolated monkey pulmonary veins to histamine

Ring strips of monkey pulmonary veins precontracted with a high concentration of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) relaxed in a concentration-dependent manner in response to histamine. Treatment with mepyramine and/or famotidine attenuated the relaxation. 2-Pyridylethylamine (2PEA) and dimaprit caused relaxations in the precontracted preparations, which were inhibited by pretreatment with mepyramine and famotidine, respectively. Removal of endothelium reversed the histamine- and 2PEA-induced relaxations to dose-related contractions. On the other hand, the removal had no effect on the dimaprit-induced relaxations, which were significantly reduced by pretreatment with famotidine. Histamine-induced relaxations in the precontracted strips with endothelium in the presence and absence of famotidine were suppressed or abolished by treatment with methylene blue or hemoglobin but were unaffected by aspirin. It may be concluded that histamine-induced relaxation in monkey pulmonary veins precontracted with PGF2 alpha is mediated by H2-receptors in smooth muscle and H1-receptors in endothelium. Also, stimulation of the endothelial H1-receptors liberates an endothelium-derived relaxing factor.