Reduction of ventricular fibrillation threshold by histamine: resolution into separate H1- and H2-mediated components

The effects of histamine and the selective agonists impromidine (H2-agonist) and 2-(2-thiazolyl ethylamine)(H1-agonist) on ventricular fibrillation threshold were tested in the isolated guinea-pig heart. All three compounds produced reversible concentration-dependent decreases in ventricular fibrillation threshold. Ventricular fibrillation threshold reduction was not secondary to the positive chronotropic effect of the three compounds. Computer analysis of the data using appropriate theoretical models suggests that the net effect of histamine on ventricular fibrillation threshold is the resultant of two components: H1 and H2. Pyrilamine inhibited the H1-mediated effects of histamine on ventricular fibrillation threshold with a Kb value of 0.449 nM. H1- and H2-receptors mediating ventricular fibrillation threshold reduction differ in their relative sensitivity to histamine (H1 greater than H2; EC50 for histamine, 53.9 nM at H1- and 311 nM at H2-receptors) and in the maximum response which they are capable of producing (H1 congruent to 1/2 that of H2). The finding that extremely low concentrations of histamine (less than 1 pg/ml) can effectively reduce ventricular fibrillation threshold reinforces the concept that histamine is highly arrhythmogenic.