thioperamide and clobenpropit

G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are integral membrane proteins that play important role in regulating key physiological functions, and are targets of about 50% of all recently launched drugs. High-resolution experimental structures are available only for very few GPCRs. As a result, structure-based drug design efforts for GPCRs continue to rely on in silico modeling, which is considered to be an extremely difficult task especially for these receptors. Here, we describe Gmodel, a novel approach for building 3D atomic models of GPCRs using a normal mode-based refinement of homology models. Gmodel uses a small set of relevant low-frequency vibrational modes derived from Random Elastic Network model to efficiently sample the large-scale receptor conformation changes and generate an ensemble of alternative models. These are used to assemble receptor-ligand complexes by docking a known active into each of the alternative models. Each of these is next filtered using restraints derived from known mutation and binding affinity data and is refined in the presence of the active ligand. In this study, Gmodel was applied to generate models of the antagonist form of histamine 3 (H3) receptor. The validity of this novel modeling approach is demonstrated by performing virtual screening (using the refined models) that consistently produces highly enriched hit lists. The models are further validated by analyzing the available SAR related to classical H3 antagonists, and are found to be in good agreement with the available experimental data, thus providing novel insights into the receptor-ligand interactions.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Drug Discovery; Histamine H3 Antagonists; Humans; Imidazoles; Ligands; Models, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Oximes; Piperidines; Protein Binding; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, Histamine H3; Sequence Alignment; Thiourea

Previous studies have demonstrated that clobenpropit (N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-S-[3-(4(5)-imidazolyl)propyl]isothiourea) binds to both the human histamine H(3) receptor (H(3)R) and H(4) receptor (H(4)R). In this paper, we describe the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of a series of clobenpropit analogs, which vary in the functional group adjacent to the isothiourea moiety in order to study structural requirements for H(3)R and H(4)R ligands. The compounds show moderate to high affinity for both the human H(3)R and H(4)R. Furthermore, the changes in the functional group attached to the isothiourea moiety modulate the intrinsic activity of the ligands at the H(4)R, ranging from neutral antagonism to full agonism. QSAR models have been generated in order to explain the H(3)R and H(4)R affinities.

Topics: Histamine H3 Antagonists; Humans; Imidazoles; Ligands; Male; Molecular Structure; Protein Binding; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, Histamine; Receptors, Histamine H3; Receptors, Histamine H4; Thiourea

Siberian hamsters develop hypophagia and increase catabolism of fat reserves in response to short photoperiods resulting in a natural loss of body weight in winter. We previously found that histamine 3 receptor (H3R) mRNA in the posterior hypothalamus is significantly decreased in short photoperiods. We hypothesized that this lower expression of H3R might contribute to the winter hypophagic state, therefore we examined the effects of the H3R agonist imetit and inverse agonists clobenpropit and thioperamide on food intake. We expressed the Siberian hamster H3R receptor in vitro and confirmed that imetit, clobenpropit and thioperamide are bound specifically, thus validating them as tools to investigate the role of H3R in vivo. Intracerebroventricular administration of histamine decreased food intake in hamsters in the fat summer state. Administration of imetit to hamsters in the lean state increased food intake, whereas administration of inverse agonists decreased food intake, though this was associated with decreased locomotor activity. Both H3R inverse agonists prevented the nocturnal rise in body temperature indicating additional effects on energy expenditure. In summary, our results suggest that increased availability of central histamine or the reduction of H3R activity decrease food intake. These effects are similar to those observed in hamsters in short photoperiods.

Topics: Animals; Body Temperature; Cell Line, Transformed; Cricetinae; Disease Models, Animal; Eating; Histamine; Imidazoles; Injections, Intraventricular; Motor Activity; Obesity; Phodopus; Photoperiod; Piperidines; Receptors, Histamine H3; Seasons; Thiourea; Transfection

The recently cloned histamine H(4) receptor is expressed predominantly in haematopoietic cells and has been found to modulate the function of mast cells, eosinophils, dendritic cells and T lymphocytes. It represents an attractive target for pharmacological interventions against a number of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. In the present work we used two-electrode voltage-clamp to demonstrate histamine H(4) receptor modulation of G protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium (GIRK) channels heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In accordance with earlier findings in other effector systems, full agonism by histamine and (R)-alpha-methylhistamine, partial agonism by clobenpropit and inverse agonism by thioperamide were observed. Furthermore, in oocytes injected with low amounts of receptor cRNA, clobenpropit apparently acted as a neutral antagonist. We also used the high temporal resolution afforded by this system to study the differential time courses of response deactivation upon ligand washout for clobenpropit and (R)-alpha-methylhistamine. GIRK channels represent a novel effector system for histamine H(4) receptor modulation, which may be of physiological relevance and prove useful in the development of compounds targeting this receptor.

Topics: Animals; Electrophysiology; G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Humans; Imidazoles; Methylhistamines; Oocytes; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Piperidines; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, Histamine; Receptors, Histamine H4; Thiourea; Xenopus

(1) The present study was designed to investigate whether histamine is involved in the protective effect of carnosine on Abeta42-induced impairment in differentiated PC12 cells. (2) PC12 cells were exposed to Abeta42 (5 muM) for 24 h after carnosine (5 mM) applied for 18 h. Histamine receptor antagonists (diphenhydramine, zolantidine, thioperamide, clobenpropit) or histidine decarboxylase inhibitor (alpha-fluoromethylhistidine) were added 15 min before carnosine. Cell viability, glutamate release or cell surface expression of NMDA receptor was examined. (3) Abeta42 caused a concentration-dependent reduction of viability in PC12 cells and pretreatment with carnosine ameliorated this impairment. This amelioration was reversed by the H(3) receptor antagonists thioperamide and clobenpropit, but not by either the H(1) receptor antagonist diphenhydramine or the H(2) receptor antagonist zolantidine. Further, alpha-fluoromethylhistidine, an irreversible inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, also had no effect. In the presence of Abeta42, carnosine significantly decreased glutamate release and carnosine increased the surface expression of NMDA receptor. (4) These results indicate that the mechanism by which carnosine attenuates Abeta42-induced neurotoxicity is independent of the carnosine-histidine-histamine pathway, but may act through regulation of glutamate release and NMDA receptor trafficking.

Topics: Amyloid beta-Peptides; Animals; Benzothiazoles; Carnosine; Cell Differentiation; Diphenhydramine; Drug Interactions; Glutamic Acid; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Histamine H2 Antagonists; Histamine H3 Antagonists; Imidazoles; Neurons; Neurotoxins; PC12 Cells; Peptide Fragments; Phenoxypropanolamines; Piperidines; Rats; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Thiourea

Complications of sickle cell anaemia include vascular occlusion triggered by the adherence of sickle erythrocytes to endothelium in the postcapillary venules. Adherence can be promoted by inflammatory mediators that induce endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression and arrest flowing erythrocytes. The present study characterised the effect of histamine stimulation on the kinetics of sickle cell adherence to large vessel and microvascular endothelium under physiological flow. Increased sickle cell adherence was observed within minutes of endothelial activation by histamine and reached a maximum value within 30 min. At steady state, sickle cell adherence to histamine-stimulated endothelium was 47 +/- 4 adherent cells/mm(2), 2.6-fold higher than sickle cell adherence to unstimulated endothelial cells. Histamine-induced sickle cell adherence occurred rapidly and transiently. Studies using histamine receptor agonists and antagonists suggest that histamine-induced sickle cell adhesion depends on simultaneous stimulation of the H(2) and H(4) histamine receptors and endothelial P-selectin expression. These data show that histamine release may promote sickle cell adherence and vaso-occlusion. In vivo histamine release should be studied to determine its role in sickle complications and whether blocking of specific histamine receptors may prevent clinical complications or adverse effects from histamine release stimulated by opiate analgesic treatment.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Cell Adhesion; Cells, Cultured; Endothelial Cells; Endothelium, Vascular; Erythrocytes; Famotidine; Histamine; Histamine Agonists; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Histamine H2 Antagonists; Humans; Imidazoles; Methylhistamines; P-Selectin; Piperidines; Pyrilamine; Stimulation, Chemical; Thiazoles; Thiourea; Venules

The central histaminergic neuron system inhibits epileptic seizures, which is suggested to occur mainly through histamine 1 (H1) and histamine 3 (H3) receptors. However, the importance of histaminergic neurons in seizure-induced cell damage is poorly known. In this study, we used an organotypic coculture system and confocal microscopy to examine whether histaminergic neurons, which were verified by immunohistochemistry, have any protective effect on kainic acid (KA)-induced neuronal damage in the developing hippocampus. Fluoro-Jade B, a specific marker for degenerating neurons, indicated that, after the 12 h KA (5 microM) treatment, neuronal damage was significantly attenuated in the hippocampus cultured together with the posterior hypothalamic slice containing histaminergic neurons [HI plus HY (POST)] when compared with the hippocampus cultured alone (HI) or with the anterior hypothalamus devoid of histaminergic neurons. Moreover, alpha-fluoromethylhistidine, an inhibitor of histamine synthesis, eliminated the neuroprotective effect in KA-treated HI plus HY (POST), and extracellularly applied histamine (1 nM to 100 microM) significantly attenuated neuronal damage only at 1 nM concentration in HI. After the 6 h KA treatment, spontaneous electrical activity registered in the CA1 subregion contained significantly less burst activity in HI plus HY (POST) than in HI. Finally, in KA-treated slices, the H3 receptor antagonist thioperamide enhanced the neuroprotective effect of histaminergic neurons, whereas the H1 receptor antagonists triprolidine and mepyramine dose-dependently decreased the neuroprotection in HI plus HY (POST). Our results suggest that histaminergic neurons protect the developing hippocampus from KA-induced neuronal damage, with regulation of neuronal survival being at least partly mediated through H1 and H3 receptors.

Topics: Animals; Cell Death; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Convulsants; Hippocampus; Histamine; Histamine Antagonists; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Hypothalamus, Anterior; Hypothalamus, Posterior; Imidazoles; Kainic Acid; Methylhistidines; Microscopy, Confocal; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Organ Culture Techniques; Piperidines; Pyrilamine; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Histamine H1; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea; Triprolidine

We previously described that agonist-activated histamine H3 autoreceptors inhibit the stimulation of histamine synthesis mediated by calcium/calmodulin- and cAMP-dependent protein kinases (CaMKII and PKA respectively) in histaminergic nerve endings. In the absence of an agonist H3 receptors show partial constitutive activity, so we hypothesized that suppression of constitutive activity by an inverse agonist could stimulate these transduction pathways. We show here that the H3 inverse agonist thioperamide increases histamine synthesis in rat brain cortical slices independently from the amounts of extracellular histamine. Thioperamide effects were mimicked by the inverse agonists clobenpropit and A-331440, but not by the neutral antagonist VUF-5681. In contrast, coincubation with VUF-5681 suppressed thioperamide effects. The effects of thioperamide were completely blocked by the PKA inhibitor peptide myristoyl-PKI14-22, a peptide that did not block depolarization stimulation of histamine synthesis. In addition, thioperamide effects required depolarization and were impaired by blockade of N-type calcium channels (mediating depolarization), but not by CaMKII inhibition. These results indicate that constitutive activity of H3 receptors in rat brain cortex inhibits the adenylate cyclase/PKA pathway, and perhaps also the opening of N-type voltage sensitive calcium channels, but apparently not CaMKII.

Topics: Animals; Biphenyl Compounds; Brain; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Enzyme Inhibitors; Histamine; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Models, Biological; Nitriles; Piperidines; Potassium; Pyrrolidines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea

Using a cyanide model to induce neurotoxic effects in rat brain homogenates, we examined the neuroprotective properties of three H3 antagonists, namely clobenpropit, thioperamide and impentamine, and compared them to aspirin, a known neuroprotective agent. Superoxide anion levels and malondialdehyde concentration were assessed using the nitroblue tetrazolium and lipid peroxidation assays. Clobenpropit and thioperamide significantly reduced superoxide anion generation and lipid peroxidation. Impentamine reduced lipid peroxidation at all concentrations used, but only reduced superoxide anion generation at a concentration of 1 mM. In the lipid peroxidation assay, all the drugs compared favourably to aspirin. This study demonstrates the potential of these agents to be neuroprotective by exerting antioxidant effects.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Aspirin; Brain; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Histamine Agonists; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Malondialdehyde; Neuroprotective Agents; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Piperidines; Potassium Cyanide; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Histamine H3; Superoxides; Thiourea

Although the effectiveness of histamine-related drugs in the treatment of peripheral and central vestibular disorders may be explained by their action on the vestibular nuclei, it has also been shown that antivertigo effects can take place at the peripheral level. In this work, we examined the actions of H3 histaminergic agonists and antagonists on the afferent neuron electrical discharge in the isolated inner ear of the axolotl. Our results indicate that H3 antagonists such as thioperamide, clobenpropit, and betahistine (BH) decreased the electrical discharge of afferent neurons by interfering with the postsynaptic response to excitatory amino acid agonists. These results lend further support to the idea that the antivertigo action of histamine-related drugs may be caused, at least in part, by a decrease in the sensory input from the vestibular endorgans. The present data show that the inhibitory action of the afferent neurons discharge previously described for BH is not restricted to this molecule but is also shared by other H3 antagonists.

Topics: Afferent Pathways; Ambystoma; Animals; Betahistine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hair Cells, Auditory; Histamine Agents; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Neural Inhibition; Piperidines; Receptors, Glutamate; Receptors, Histamine H3; Semicircular Canals; Signal Transduction; Thiourea; Vestibular Nerve; Vestibule, Labyrinth

Methamphetamine administration increases brain levels of histamine and neuronal histamine attenuates several of methamphetamine's behavioral effects. The role of different subtypes of histamine receptors in this negative feedback, however, remains unclear. There is some evidence on possible involvement of histamine H3 receptors in these actions of methamphetamine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two histamine H3 receptor antagonists, clobenpropit and thioperamide, on rewarding and neurochemical effects of methamphetamine utilizing three in vivo methodologies, drug self-administration, drug discrimination, and microdialysis in Sprague-Dawley rats. In rats self-administering methamphetamine intravenously under a fixed-ratio schedule, presession treatment with thioperamide (1.0-3.0 mg/kg, subcutaneous, s.c.) or clobenpropit (1.0-3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) potentiated the reinforcing effects of methamphetamine, as indicated by a dose-dependent increase in responding for a low 0.03 mg/kg dose of methamphetamine, that by itself failed to maintain responding above saline substitution levels, and a decrease in responding for a higher 0.06 mg/kg training dose of methamphetamine. In contrast, neither thioperamide nor clobenpropit treatment increased responding during saline substitution. In other rats trained to discriminate intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 1.0 mg/kg methamphetamine from i.p. injection of saline, both thioperamide and clobenpropit (0.3-3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) dose dependently increased methamphetamine-appropriate responding when administered with a low 0.3 mg/kg i.p. dose of methamphetamine, which by itself produced predominantly saline-appropriate responding. However, thioperamide and clobenpropit produced only saline-appropriate responding when administered with saline vehicle. Finally, thioperamide and clobenpropit potentiated methamphetamine-induced elevations in extracellular dopamine levels in the shell of the nucleus accumbens, but did not increase brain dopamine levels when given alone. These findings point to histamine H3 receptors as a new and important receptor system modulating the reinforcing, subjective, and neurochemical actions of methamphetamine.

Topics: Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Dopamine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Male; Methamphetamine; Microdialysis; Nucleus Accumbens; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration; Thiourea; Time Factors

The effects of histamine H3 antagonists on amygdaloid kindled and maximal electroshock seizures in rats were studied to determine their potential as new antiepileptic drugs. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, rats were fixed to a stereotaxic apparatus and a stainless steel guide cannula for drug administration was implanted into the lateral ventricle. In amygdaloid kindled seizures, electrodes were implanted into the right amygdala and electroencephalogram was recorded bipolarly; stimulation was applied bipolarly every day by a constant current stimulator and continued until a generalized convulsion was obtained. In the maximal electroshock (MES) seizure test, electroconvulsion was induced by stimulating animals through ear-clip electrodes, and the durations of tonic and clonic seizures were measured. Thioperamide, clobenpropit, iodophenpropit, VUF5514, VUF5515 and VUF4929 caused a dose-dependent inhibition of both seizure stage and afterdischarge (AD) duration of amygdaloid kindled seizures. The duration of tonic seizure induced by MES was also inhibited by H3 antagonists, but the duration of clonic seizures were unchanged. Among the H3 antagonists tested, clobenpropit and iodophenpropit were somewhat more potent than the other drugs on amygdaloid kindled seizures and MES seizures, respectively. These results indicate that some H3 antagonists may be useful as antiepileptic drugs, especially for secondary generalized seizures and/or tonic-clonic seizures in humans.

Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electroencephalography; Electroshock; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Injections, Intraventricular; Isothiuronium; Kindling, Neurologic; Lateral Ventricles; Male; Methylhistamines; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Histamine H3; Seizures; Thiourea

1. Histamine (0.004-2 microm) induced a concentration-dependent shape change of human eosinophils, but not of neutrophils or basophils, detected as an increase in forward scatter (FSC) in the gated autofluorescence/forward scatter (GAFS) assay. 2. The histamine-induced eosinophil shape change was completely abolished by thioperamide (10 microm), an H3/H4 receptor antagonist, but was not inhibited by pyrilamine or cimetidine (10 microm), H1 and H2 receptor antagonists, respectively. The H4 receptor agonists, clobenpropit and clozapine (0.004-2 microm), which are also H3 receptor antagonists, both induced eosinophil shape change, which was inhibited by thioperamide (10 microm). The H3/H4 receptor agonists, imetit, R-alpha-methyl histamine and N-alpha-methyl histamine (0.004-2 microm) also induced eosinophil shape change. 3. Histamine induced actin polymerisation (0.015-10 microm), intracellular calcium mobilisation (10-100 microm) and a significant upregulation of expression of the cell adhesion molecule CD11b (0.004-10 microm) in eosinophils, all of which were inhibited by thioperamide (10-100 microm). In addition, the H4 receptor agonist/H3 receptor antagonist clozapine (20 microm) stimulated a rise in intracellular calcium in eosinophils. 4. Activation of H4 receptors by histamine (1 microm) primed eosinophils for increased chemotactic responses to eotaxin, but histamine (0.1-10 microm) did not directly induce chemotaxis of eosinophils. 5. Pertussis toxin (1 microg ml-1) inhibited shape change and actin polymerisation responses induced by histamine showing that these effects are mediated by coupling to a Galphai/o G-protein. 6. This study demonstrates that human eosinophils express functional H4 receptors and may provide a novel target for allergic disease therapy.

Topics: Actins; Calcium; CD11b Antigen; Cell Size; Chemokine CCL11; Chemokines, CC; Chemotaxis; Clozapine; Cytoskeleton; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eosinophils; Histamine; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Humans; Imidazoles; Pertussis Toxin; Piperidines; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, Histamine; Receptors, Histamine H4; Thiourea; Up-Regulation

1. The extraneuronal monoamine transporter from rat (EMTr) was heterologously expressed by stable transfection in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and characterized in radiotracer experiments. 2. EMTr-mediated uptake of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) was saturable, with a K(m) of 151 micro mol l(-1) and V(max) of 7.5 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1). 3. Compared to the human orthologue EMTh (gene symbol SLC22A3), EMTr was about two orders of magnitude more resistant to most inhibitors, including disprocynium24 and corticosterone. 4. Strikingly, inhibitors and substrates at low concentration stimulated EMTr-mediated transport above control level with MPP(+) and noradrenaline as substrate, but not with cimetidine. Results were confirmed with EMT from mouse. 5. With different IC(50)-values for different substrates, the standard method to calculate K(i)-values is not applicable. 6. Our experiments suggest that activation is not caused by changes in membrane potential or trans-stimulation. Since the extent of activation depends markedly on the chemical structure of the monitored substrate, involvement of a receptor-mediated signalling pathway or recruitment of transporter reserve are implausible. 7. To explain activation, we present a kinetic model which assumes two binding sites for substrate or inhibitor per transporter entity, possibly resulting from the assembly of homodimers. 8. Activation explains previous reports about inhibitor-insensitive catecholamine transport in rat brain. 9. We speculate that activation may serve to keep the transporter working for specific substrates in the face of inhibitors.

Topics: 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; Animals; Biological Transport; Cell Line; Cimetidine; Cloning, Molecular; Corticosterone; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Imidazoles; Kinetics; Mice; Norepinephrine; Organic Cation Transport Proteins; Papaverine; Piperidines; Quinolines; Rats; Thiourea; Transfection; Tritium

Histamine H3 receptors modulate histamine synthesis, although little is known about the transduction mechanisms involved. To investigate this issue, we have used a preparation of rat brain cortical miniprisms in which histamine synthesis can be modulated by depolarization and by H3 receptor ligands. When the miniprisms were incubated in presence of forskolin, dibutyryl-cAMP, or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), histamine synthesis was stimulated in 34, 29, and 47%, respectively. These stimulations could be prevented by the selective cAMP protein kinase blocker Rp-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate triethylamine (Rp-cAMPs). Preincubation with the H3 receptor agonist imetit prevented IBMX- (100% blockade) and forskolin- (70% blockade) induced stimulation of histamine synthesis. The H3 inverse agonist thioperamide enhanced histamine synthesis in the presence of 1 mM IBMX or 30 mM potassium (+47 and +45%, respectively). Similarly, the H3 antagonist clobenpropit enhanced histamine synthesis in the presence of 30 mM potassium (+ 59%). The cAMP-dependent protein kinase blockers Rp-cAMPs and PKI14-22 could impair the effects of thioperamide and clobenpropit, respectively. These results indicate that the adenylate cyclase-protein kinase A pathway is involved in the modulation of histamine synthesis by H3 autoreceptors present in histaminergic nerve terminals.

Topics: 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine; Animals; Brain; Bucladesine; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Drug Interactions; Histamine; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Piperidines; Potassium; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thionucleotides; Thiourea

1. A study was made of the regulation of [(3)H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid ([(3)H]-GABA) release from slices of rat striatum by endogenous dopamine and exogenous histamine and a histamine H(3)-agonist. Depolarization-induced release of [(3)H]-GABA was Ca(2+)-dependent and was increased in the presence of the dopamine D(2) receptor family antagonist, sulpiride (10 microM). The sulpiride-potentiated release of [(3)H]-GABA was strongly inhibited by the dopamine D(1) receptor family antagonist, SCH 23390 (1 microM). Neither antagonist altered basal release. 2. The 15 mM K(+)-induced release of [(3)H]-GABA in the presence of sulpiride was inhibited by 100 microM histamine (mean inhibition 78+/-3%) and by the histamine H(3) receptor-selective agonist, immepip, 1 microM (mean inhibition 81+/-5%). The IC(50) values for histamine and immepip were 1.3+/-0.2 microM and 16+/-2 nM, respectively. The inhibitory effects of histamine and immepip were reversed by the H(3) receptor antagonist, thioperamide, 1 microM. 3. The inhibition of 15 mM K(+)-induced [(3)H]-GABA release by immepip was reversed by the H(3) receptor antagonist, clobenpropit, K(d) 0.11+/-0.04 nM. Clobenpropit alone had no effect on basal or stimulated release of [(3)H]-GABA. 4. Elevated K(+) caused little release of [(3)H]-GABA from striatal slices from reserpinized rats, unless the D(1) partial agonist, R(+)-SKF 38393, 1 microM, was also present. The stimulated release in the presence of SKF 38393 was reduced by 1 microM immepip to the level obtained in the absence of SKF 38393. 5. These observations demonstrate that histamine H(3) receptor activation strongly inhibits the dopamine D(1) receptor-dependent release of [(3)H]-GABA from rat striatum; primarily through an interaction at the terminals of GABA neurones.

Topics: 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine; Animals; Calcium; Dopamine; Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Histamine; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Membrane Potentials; Neostriatum; Piperidines; Potassium; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Dopamine D1; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Receptors, Histamine H3; Reserpine; Sulpiride; Thiourea

Thioperamide, the prototypical histamine H(3) receptor antagonist, acts at the brain histamine H(3) autoreceptor to promote the release and metabolism of neuronal histamine, resulting in higher brain levels of the metabolite tele-methylhistamine. However, unlike thioperamide, several new histamine H(3) receptor antagonists enter the central nervous system (CNS), block brain histamine H(3) receptors and increase histamine release without increasing brain tele-methylhistamine levels. Experiments were performed presently in an attempt to understand these results. Consistent with previous findings, thioperamide significantly increased the content and synthesis rate of tele-methylhistamine in mouse and rat brain. In contrast, the histamine H(3) receptor antagonists GT-2227 (4-(6-cyclohexylhex-cis-3-enyl)imidazole) and clobenpropit did not affect tele-methylhistamine synthesis rate in mouse whole brain. The histamine H(3) receptor ligand GT-2016 (5-cyclohexyl-1-(4-imidazol-4-ylpiperidyl)pentan-1-one) had no effect on tele-methylhistamine levels in any rat brain region and decreased tele-methylhistamine synthesis rates in the mouse whole brain. To examine the possibility that these histamine H(3) receptor antagonists might prevent the methylation of newly released histamine, they were co-administered with thioperamide to determine their effects on the thioperamide-induced stimulation of tele-methylhistamine synthesis. GT-2016 significantly reduced the thioperamide-induced activation of tele-methylhistamine synthesis in mouse whole brain and in several regions of rat brain. Although further clarification is needed, these results suggest that some histamine H(3) receptor antagonists may promote the release of neuronal histamine, but also act to reduce histamine methylation in vivo by an unknown mechanism.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Binding Sites; Brain; Histamine; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Male; Methylhistamines; Mice; Pargyline; Piperidines; Rats; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea

The distribution of histaminergic fibers in the zebrafish brain was recently shown to resemble that in mammals. Expression of L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC) mRNA was shown only in the area corresponding to that expressing HDC in mammals. This indicates that the zebrafish could be a useful model for studies on the function of the brain histaminergic system. In this study an H(3)-like receptor is identified in zebrafish brain. With binding studies using N-alpha-[(3)H]methylhistamine on zebrafish brain sections, signals were observed in several regions. Highest densities were detected in optic tectum and hypothalamus. The autoradiographic signal was abolished completely by the H(3)-specific antagonist clobenpropit and significantly reduced by another H(3) antagonist, thioperamide. Histamine and immepip induced an increase of guanosine 5'-(gamma-[(35)S]thio)triphosphate binding in several areas of the zebrafish brain. The activation was blocked with clobenpropit but not with cimetidine or mepyramine. These results indicate that the zebrafish has a histamine H(3)-like receptor that functionally interacts with the inhibitory, G(i)/G(o), class of G proteins. No previous evidence for a histamine receptor in zebrafish exists. The receptor described here is apparently similar to the mammalian H(3) receptor, making this the first description of a histamine H(3)-like receptor in a lower vertebrate.

Topics: Animals; Autoradiography; Brain; Cimetidine; Female; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Kinetics; Male; Methylhistamines; Piperidines; Pyrilamine; Radioligand Assay; Receptors, Histamine H3; Sulfur Radioisotopes; Thiourea; Tritium; Zebrafish

Stimulation-evoked 3H-noradrenaline release in human cerebrocortical slices was inhibited by histamine (in a manner sensitive to clobenpropit) and by imetit, suggesting H3 receptor-mediated inhibition of noradrenaline release in human brain.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Cerebral Cortex; Dimethindene; Electric Stimulation; Hippocampus; Histamine; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Humans; Imidazoles; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Norepinephrine; Piperidines; Ranitidine; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea; Tritium

Studies were performed to assess the functional activity of histamine H3 receptors on neurogenic sympathetic end organ responses in cryopreserved human saphenous vein. (R)-alpha-methylhistamine inhibited electrical field stimulation-evoked contractile responses in a dose dependent manner (pD2 = 8.20). Prazosin (1 microM) and tetrodotoxin (1 microM) blocked the electrical field stimulation-evoked contractile responses in human saphenous vein indicating a sympathetic neural origin of these contractions. The histamine H3 antagonists thioperamide (pA2 = 8.41) and clobenpropit (pA2 = 10.10) produced parallel rightward shifts in the concentration response curve to (R)-alpha-methylhistamine in human saphenous vein and guinea pig ileum (pA2 = 8.59 and 9.83, respectively). Pretreatment with (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (1 microM) did not alter contractions to exogenous norepinephrine in human saphenous vein. In addition, clonidine (pD2 = 10.28) inhibited electrical field stimulation-evoked contractile responses in human saphenous vein which were blocked by yohimbine (30 nM, pA2 = 9.92) but did not alter the (R)-alpha-methylhistamine dose response curve. These results demonstrate the presence of functional presynaptic histamine H3 heteroreceptors on cryopreserved human saphenous vein sympathetic nerves that, upon activation, attenuate electrical field stimulation-evoked contractile responses in this vessel.

Topics: Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; Aged; Animals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electric Stimulation; Female; Guinea Pigs; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Humans; Ileum; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Methylhistamines; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction; Piperidines; Prazosin; Receptors, Histamine H3; Saphenous Vein; Tetrodotoxin; Thiourea; Yohimbine

Histamine H3 receptor ligands have been proposed to be of potential therapeutic interest for the treatment of different central nervous system disorders; however, the psychopharmacological properties of these drugs have not been studied extensively. In this work, we investigated the possible involvement of histamine H3 receptor function in experimental models of anxiety (elevated plus-maze) and depression (forced swimming test). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated i.p. with the histamine H3 receptor agonist R-alpha-methylhistamine (10 mg/kg) or the histamine H3 receptor antagonist thioperamide (0.2, 2 and 10 mg/kg) and 30 min afterwards the time spent in the open arms of an elevated plus-maze was registered for 5 min. The immobility time of male OF1 mice in the forced swimming test was recorded for 6 min, 1 h after the i.p. administration of R-alpha-methylhistamine (10 and 20 mg/kg), thioperamide (0.2, 2, 10 and 20 mg/kg) or another histamine H3 receptor antagonist, clobenpropit (5 mg/kg). The locomotor activity of mice was checked in parallel by means of an activity meter. Both saline controls and active drug controls were used in all the paradigms. Neither thioperamide nor R-alpha-methylhistamine significantly changed animal behaviour in the elevated plus-maze. R-alpha-methylhistamine and the higher dose of thioperamide assayed (20 mg/kg) were also inactive in the forced swimming test. By contrast, thioperamide (0.2-10 mg/kg) dose-dependently decreased immobility, the effect being significant at 10 mg/kg (33% reduction of immobility); clobenpropit produced an effect qualitatively similar (24% reduction of immobility). None of these histamine H3 receptor antagonists affected locomotor activity. These preliminary results suggest that the histamine H3 receptor blockade could be devoid of anxiolytic potential but have antidepressant effects. Besides, the stimulation of these receptors does not seem to be followed by changes in the behavioural parameters studied.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Anxiety; Depression; Disease Models, Animal; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Ligands; Male; Maze Learning; Methylhistamines; Mice; Motor Activity; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Histamine H3; Swimming; Thiourea

1 We have investigated the binding of a novel histamine H3-receptor antagonist radioligand, [3H]- clobenpropit ([3H]-VUF9153), to guinea-pig cerebral cortex membranes. 2 Saturation isotherms for [3H]-clobenpropit appeared biphasic. Scatchard plots were curvilinear and Hill plot slopes were significantly less than unity (0.63+/-0.03; n = 12+/-s.e.mean). The radioligand appeared to label two sites in guinea-pig cerebral cortex membranes with apparent affinities (pKD') of 10.91+/-0.12 (Bmax = 5.34+/-0.85 fmol mg(-1) original wet weight) and 9.17+/-0.16 (Bmax = 23.20+/-6.70 fmol mg(-1)). 3 In the presence of metyrapone (3 mM) or sodium chloride (100 mM), [3H]-clobenpropit appeared to label a homogeneous receptor population (Bmax=3.41+/-0.46 fmol mg-1 and 3.49+/-0.44 fmol mg(-1), pKD' = 10.59+/-0.17 and 10.77+/-0.02, respectively). Scatchard plots were linear and Hill slopes were not significantly different from unity (0.91+/-0.04 and 0.99+/-0.02, respectively). Granisetron (1 microM), rilmenidine (3 microM), idazoxan (0.3 microM), pentazocine (3 microM) and 1,3-di-(2-tolyl)guanidine (0.3 microM) had no effect on the binding of [3H]-clobenpropit. 4 The specific binding of [3H]-clobenpropit appeared to reach equilibrium after 25 min at 21+/-3 degrees C and remained constant for >180 min. The estimated pKD' (10.27+/-0.27; n = 3+/-s.e.mean) was not significantly different from that estimated by saturation analysis in the presence of metyrapone. 5 A series of histamine H3-receptor ligands expressed affinity values for sites labelled with [3H]-clobenpropit which were not significantly different from those estimated when [3H]-R-alpha-MH was used to label histamine H3-receptors in guinea-pig cerebral cortex membranes.

Topics: Animals; Binding, Competitive; Cerebral Cortex; Guinea Pigs; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Kinetics; Metyrapone; Piperidines; Radioligand Assay; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea; Tritium

In previous research we found that pre-training administration of histamine H3 receptor agonists such as (R)-alpha-methylhistamine and imetit impaired rat performance in object recognition and a passive avoidance response at the same doses at which they inhibited the release of cortical acetylcholine in vivo. Conversely, in the present study we report that the post-training administration of (R)-alpha-methylhistamine and imetit failed to affect rat performance in object recognition and a passive avoidance response, suggesting that H3 receptor influences the acquisition and not the recall processes. We also investigated the effects of two H3 receptor antagonists, thioperamide and clobenpropit, in the same behavioral tasks. Pre-training administration of thioperamide and clobenpropit failed to exhibit any procognitive effects in normal animals but prevented scopolamine-induced amnesia. However, also post-training administration of thioperamide prevented scopolamine-induced amnesia. Hence, the ameliorating effects of scopolamine-induced amnesia by H3 receptor antagonism are not only mediated by relieving the inhibitory action of cortical H3 receptors, but other mechanisms are also involved. Nevertheless, H3 receptor antagonists may have implications for the treatment of degenerative disorders associated with impaired cholinergic function.

Topics: Amnesia; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Avoidance Learning; Behavior, Animal; Cognition; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Methylhistamines; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Histamine H3; Scopolamine; Thiourea

We investigated the effects of histamine H3-receptor ligands on hippocampal synaptic transmission by using anesthetized rats in vivo. The medial perforant path was stimulated, and the population excitatory postsynaptic potential (pEPSP) and population spike were recorded from the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. Intracerebroventricular injection of the H3-receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine decreased both the pEPSP and population spike, while H3-receptor antagonists, clobenpropit and thioperamide, increased both the pEPSP and population spike. These results suggest that the histaminergic system plays a role in inhibition of hippocampal synaptic excitation via the H3 receptor.

Topics: Animals; Dentate Gyrus; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Histamine H3; Synaptic Transmission; Thiourea

The effects of histamine H3-receptor antagonists, thioperamide, and clobenpropit on amygdaloid kindled seizures were investigated in rats. Both intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of H3-antagonists resulted in a dose-related inhibition of amygdaloid kindled seizures. An inhibition induced by thioperamide was antagonized by an H3-agonist [(R)-alpha-methylhistamine] and H1-antagonists (diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine). On the other hand, an H2-antagonist (cimetidine and ranitidine) caused no antagonistic effect. Metoprine, an inhibitor of N-methyltransferase was also effective in inhibiting amygdaloid kindled seizure, and this effect was augmented by thioperamide treatment.

Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Brain Chemistry; Enzyme Inhibitors; Histamine Antagonists; Histamine N-Methyltransferase; Imidazoles; Injections, Intraventricular; Kindling, Neurologic; Male; Piperidines; Pyrimethamine; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Histamine H3; Seizures; Thiourea

We investigated the effect of the new potent and selective histamine H3 receptor agonist, immepip, and the histamine H3 receptor antagonist, clobenpropit, on in vivo neuronal histamine release from the anterior hypothalamic area of urethane-anesthetized rats, using microdialysis. Intrahypothalamic perfusion with immepip at concentrations of 1 and 10 nM reduced histamine release to 75% and 35% of its basal level, respectively. Peripheral injection of immepip (5 mg/kg) caused a sustained decrease in histamine release of 50%. Clobenpropit potently increased histamine release after intrahypothalamic perfusion. The maximal increase in histamine release was 2-fold, observed at a concentration of 10 nM clobenpropit. Peripheral injection of clobenpropit (5-15 mg/kg) increased histamine release to about 150% of the basal value. A more marked increase in histamine release was found after injection of the histamine H3 receptor antagonist, thioperamide (5 mg/kg). In conclusion, intrahypothalamic perfusion of the histamine H3 receptor agonist, immepip and the histamine H3 receptor antagonist, clobenpropit, potently and oppositely modulated in vivo histamine release from the anterior hypothalamic area. The decreased histamine release after peripheral injection of immepip indicates that this novel agonist readily crosses the blood-brain barrier, making it a potential candidate for in vivo histamine H3 receptor studies. The differential increase in histamine release after peripheral injection of clobenpropit and thioperamide is discussed.

Topics: Animals; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Histamine Release; Hypothalamus; Imidazoles; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Microdialysis; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea

Our previous results demonstrate the occurrence of presynaptic inhibitory histamine H3 receptors on sympathetic neurons innervating resistance vessels of the pithed rat. The present study, in which new H3 receptor ligands with increased potency and selectivity (imetit, clobenpropit) were used, was designed to further explore the role of H3 receptors in the regulation of the rat cardiovascular system. In particular we were interested whether these receptors may be activated by endogenous histamine and whether they are detectable in an experimental model of hypertension. All experiments were performed on pithed and vagotomized rats treated with rauwolscine 1 mumol/kg. In normotensive Wistar rats the electrical (1 Hz, 1 ms, 50 V for 20 s) stimulation of the preganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres increased diastolic blood pressure by about 35 mmHg. Two H3 receptor agonists, R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine and imetit, inhibited the electrically induced increase in diastolic blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. The maximal effect (about 25%) was obtained for R-(-)-alpha-methylhistamine at about 10 mumol/kg and for imetit at about 1 mumol/kg. Two H3 receptor antagonists, thioperamide 1 mumol/kg and clobenpropit 0.1 mumol/kg, attenuated the inhibitory effect of imetit. The neurogenic vasopressor response was increased by about 15% by thioperamide 1 mumol/kg and clobenpropit 0.1 mumol/kg and decreased by 25% by the histamine methyltransferase inhibitor metoprine 37 mumol/kg. R-(-)-alpha-Methylhistamine, imetit, thioperamide, clobenpropit and metoprine did not affect the vasopressor response to exogenously added noradrenaline 0.01 mumol/kg (which increased diastolic blood pressure by about 40 mmHg). Metoprine had only a very low affinity for H3 binding sites (labelled by 3H-N alpha-methylhistamine; pKi 4.46). In pithed Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats, electrical (1 Hz, 1 ms, 50 V for 10 s) stimulation increased diastolic blood pressure by 28 and 37 mmHg, respectively. Imetit inhibited the neurogenic vasopressor response to about the same extent in WKY and SHR rats (maximal effect of about 30%). The inhibitory influence of imetit was diminished by thioperamide 1 mumol/kg to about the same degree in rats of either strain. The present study confirms the occurrence of presynaptic H3 receptors on sympathetic nerve fibres involved in the inhibition of the neurogenic vasopressor response. Moreover, it demonstrates that these H3 receptors are

Topics: Adrenergic Fibers; Animals; Blood Pressure; Decerebrate State; Electric Stimulation; Histamine; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Hypertension; Imidazoles; Male; Methylhistamines; Piperidines; Pyrimethamine; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea; Vagotomy; Vascular Resistance

Topics: Animals; Guinea Pigs; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Intestine, Small; Male; Methylhistamines; Muscle Contraction; Peristalsis; Piperidines; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea

Using a microdialysis method and a new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fluorometric method for the detection of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), we investigated the effect of thioperamide, an H3 receptor antagonist, on the GABA content in the dialysate from the anterior hypothalamic area of rats anesthetized with urethane. The addition of thioperamide to the perfusion fluid increased the release of GABA and histamine. Depleting neuronal histamine with alpha-fluoromethylhistidine, a specific inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, and the administration of immepip, an H3 agonist, had no effect on basal- and thioperamide-induced GABA release. In addition, an infusion of clobenpropit, the most specific H3 receptor antagonist available, did not alter the basal release of GABA. On the other hand, histamine release was decreased by immepip and increased by thioperamide and clobenpropit. Removing Ca2+ from the perfusion fluid did not alter the effect of thioperamide on the GABA release, whereas that on histamine release was abrogated. These results suggest that the effect of thioperamide on GABA release is not mediated by histamine H3 receptors and that thioperamide acts on the transporter to cause an efflux of GABA from neurons and/or glia. Thioperamide is a popular H3 receptor antagonist which has been used applied to many studies. However, results using this compound should be interpreted in consideration of its effects on GABA release.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Enzyme Inhibitors; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Histidine Decarboxylase; Hypothalamus; Imidazoles; Male; Methylhistidines; Microdialysis; Neurons; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Histamine H3; Thiourea

Recent studies have shown that cimetidine, burimamide and improgan (also known as SKF92374, a cimetidine congener lacking H2 antagonist activity) induce antinociception after intracerebroventricular administration in rodents. Because these substances closely resemble the structure of histamine (a known mediator of some endogenous analgesic responses), yet no role for known histamine receptors has been found in the analgesic actions of these agents, the structure-activity relationships for the antinociceptive effects of 21 compounds chemically related to H2 and H3 antagonists were investigated in this study. Antinociceptive activity was assessed on the hot-plate and tail-flick tests after intracerebroventricular administration in rats. Eleven compounds induced time-dependent (10-min peak) and dose-dependent antinociceptive activity with no observable behavioral impairment. ED50 values, estimated by nonlinear regression, were highly correlated across nociceptive assays (r2 = 0.98, n = 11). Antinociceptive potencies varied more than 6-fold (80-464 nmol), but were not correlated with activity on H1, H2 or H3 receptors. Although highly potent H3 antagonists such as thioperamide lacked antinociceptive activity, homologs of burimamide and thioperamide containing N-aromatic substituents retained H3 antagonist activity and also showed potent, effective analgesia. A literature review of the pharmacology of these agents did not find a basis for their antinociceptive effects. Taken with previous findings, the present results suggest: 1) these compounds act on the brain to activate powerful analgesic responses that are independent of known histamine receptors, 2) the structure-activity profile of these agents is novel and 3) brain-penetrating derivatives of these compounds could be clinically useful analgesics.

Topics: Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Animals; Burimamide; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Histamine Antagonists; Histamine H2 Antagonists; Imidazoles; Male; Piperidines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Histamine H3; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thiourea

We investigated the brain penetration of the histamine H3 receptor antagonists thioperamide and clobenpropit using ex vivo [125I]iodophenpropit binding. Homogenates of the rat cortex, striatum and mouse whole brain were prepared 1 h after subcutaneous injection of the H3 antagonists and incubated with [125I]iodophenpropit, a radiolabeled H3 receptor antagonist, to determine the H3 receptor occupancy. Specific [125I]iodophenpropit binding to the rat cortex and striatum was inhibited by thioperamide with IC30 values of 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg, respectively. Clobenpropit also inhibited [125I]iodophenpropit binding, but was less potent (IC30: 18 and 19 mg/kg in the rat cortex and striatum, respectively) than thioperamide. Similar results were obtained in experiments with mouse whole brain (3.5 and 13 mg/kg for thioperamide and clobenpropit), indicating that there is no important species differences in the brain penetration of these drugs between rats and mice. These findings suggest that after peripheral injection both in rat and mouse thioperamide penetrates the blood-brain barrier more efficiently compared to clobenpropit.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Cerebral Cortex; Corpus Striatum; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; Iodine Radioisotopes; Isothiuronium; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Piperidines; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thiourea

1. Conflicting reports in the literature over heterogeneity (West et al., 1990) or homogeneity (Arrange et al., 1990) of histamine H3-receptor binding sites may be attributed to the use of different incubation conditions. In the present study we have investigated the extent to which the binding of H3-receptor ligands to rat cerebral cortical membranes can be modified by both sodium ions and guanine nucleotides. 2. The H3-selective antagonist, thioperamide, discriminated between two specific binding sites for [3H]-N alpha-methylhistamine (IC50 1 = 2.75 +/- 0.87 nM, IC50 2 101.6 +/- 12.0 nM, % site 1 = 24 +/- 2%) in 50 mM Tris HCl buffer, but showed homogeneity of binding in 50 mM Na/K phosphate buffer. 3. Sodium ions markedly altered the binding characteristics of thioperamide (i.e. heterogeneity was lost and IC50 value shifted towards the high affinity site). The competition curves for a second H3-antagonist, clobenpropit and the H3-agonist N alpha-methylhistamine however, were unaltered in the presence of sodium ions. 4. Guanylnucleotides displaced only 60% of specific [3H]-N alpha- methylhistamine binding and modulated thioperamide binding in the same way as sodium ions. 5. These data suggest that the H3-receptor can exist in different conformations for which thioperamide, but not N alpha-methylhistamine and clobenpropit, show differential affinity. 6. The potential nature of these sites, and the implications of this apparent receptor heterogeneity for H3-receptor antagonism by thioperamide, are discussed.

Topics: Animals; Cerebral Cortex; Guanine Nucleotides; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Membranes; Methylhistamines; Piperidines; Rats; Receptors, Histamine H3; Sodium; Thiourea

The pharmacological activity of the histamine H3 receptor antagonist VUF 9153 (S-[3-(4(5)-imidazolyl)]propyl-N-(4-chlorobenzyl)isothiourea) has been investigated in vitro and in vivo. VUF 9153 displaced [3H]N alpha-methylhistamine binding to rat cortex/hippocampal membranes (pKi = 9.77 +/- 0.03) and antagonised the inhibitory responses to (R)-alpha-methylhistamine against electrical field stimulation in the isolated longitudinal smooth muscle preparation of guinea-pig ileum (pKB = 9.95 +/- 0.07). In these assays, VUF 9153 was 10-50-fold more potent than the prototype H3 receptor antagonist thioperamide. VUF 9153 showed no or very weak activity in in vitro functional assays for histamine H1 or H2 receptors. Systemic administration of VUF 9153 (s.c. or p.o.) dose-dependently inhibited the ex vivo binding of [3H]N alpha-methylhistamine to rat cortex/hippocampal membranes and dipsogenic responses induced by (R)-alpha-methylhistamine. Calculation of ED50 values, at the 1 h pretreatment time used, revealed that VUF 9153 administered s.c. or p.o., was approximately 2-fold weaker than thioperamide. These data indicate that, like thioperamide, VUF 9153 is a potent and selective antagonist for histamine H3 receptors in vitro, possesses the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier to access central H3 receptors and can inhibit H3 receptor-mediated functional responses in vivo.

Topics: Animals; Cerebral Cortex; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drinking; Electric Stimulation; Guinea Pigs; Hippocampus; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Ileum; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Methylhistamines; Muscle, Smooth; Piperidines; Rats; Receptors, Histamine H1; Receptors, Histamine H2; Thiourea