Human parathyroid adenoma adenylate cyclase: stimulation by histamine that is blocked by cimetidine

Recent evidence suggests that the histamine receptor blocking agent cimetidine can decrease parathyroid hormone release from human parathyroids. To determine the mechanism for inhibition we examined the ability of histamine 1 X 10(-5) moles/liter to stimulate adenylate cyclase in a particulate membrane preparation from 13 human parathyroid glands. Histamine significantly increased adenylate cyclase activity as compared to control; however, the degree of stimulation was variable among the individual tissue samples. Enzyme stimulation was dose dependent over the concentration range of 1 X 10(-7) to 1 X 10(-4) moles/liter. Cimetidine at 1 X 10(-4) moles/liter completely abolished the histamine mediated increase in activity, but did not block the epinephrine-induced stimulation. The identification of an adenylate cyclase system in certain human parathyroid adenomas that is stimulated by histamine and blocked by cimetidine may offer a basis for the pharmacologic alteration of parathyroid hormone secretion.