Modulation by histamine of the efflux of radiolabeled catecholamines from rat brain slices

Histamine induced a dose-dependent stimulation of 3H-catecholamine(CA) efflux (superfusion procedure) from hypothalamic, striatal, hippocampal and cortical slices. The extra-hypothalamic regions were the most sensitive to histamine. Efflux of 14C-GABA and 14C-(acetyl)choline was not affected. The effect of histamine on 3H-CA efflux developed slowly, reaching its maximum after 15-20 min. Histamine was inefffective with tissue from reserpinized animals. The major part of the radioactivity released by histamine consisted of CA metabolites. Histamine apparently does not enter catecholaminergic neurons, since tyramine and the CA had no effect on the efflux of 3H-histamine previously taken up by brain slices. After incubation of slices with 3H-CA in the presence of histamine and subsequent superfusion, tyramine or K+ -depolarization induced much less 3H-CA release than from control slices not incubated with histamine. It is suggested that histamine may act as a modulator of presynaptic catecholaminergic processes in the central nervous system by causing a depletion of the transmitter stores in the nerve terminals.