Effects of histamine and histamine receptor antagonists on ion transport in rabbit descending colon

The effects of histamine on colonic ion transport were examined in in vitro preparations of rabbit descending colon. Serosal addition of histamine (10(-5) M) produced a transient increase in short-circuit current (Isc) and transepithelial conductance. The Isc response to histamine could be blocked by removing Cl from both bathing solutions, adding furosemide (10(-3) M) to the serosal bathing solution, adding indomethacin to the serosal and mucosal bathing solutions (10(-5) M), or removing Ca from the serosal bathing solution. In addition, the histamine-induced increase in Isc was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the H1-receptor antagonist diphenhydramine, with a maximal inhibition at 10(-4) M and a half-maximal inhibition at 3 X 10(-7) M. The H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine (10(-3) M) was without effect on the histamine response. Measurement of unidirectional Na, K, and Cl fluxes revealed that serosal addition of diphenhydramine (10(-3) M) reduced basal Isc due to a decrease in mucosal-to-serosal Na flux. Serosal addition of diphenhydramine (10(-3) M) also inhibited the increase in Isc produced by serosal addition of prostaglandin E1, 8-bromo-cAMP, cholera toxin, or the ionophore A23187. Measurement of unidirectional K and Cl fluxes revealed that prostaglandin E1 alone increased serosal-to-mucosal K and Cl fluxes and reduced the mucosal-to-serosal K flux, thereby increasing net K and Cl secretion. Serosal diphenhydramine (10(-3) M) abolished the changes in Cl fluxes produced by prostaglandin E1 and reduced the magnitude of the changes in K fluxes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)