Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of histamine-mediated up-regulation of human platelet serotonin uptake. Evidence for a subclass of histamine H2 receptors (H2h) highly sensitive to H2 receptor antagonists.

The stimulatory effect of histamine: H (1.2 to 3-fold increase) on serotonin (5-HT) uptake by human platelets was observed after a 5 min incubation period in the presence of 2.5 X 10(-7) M histamine, followed by subsequent 5 min incubation of the platelets with 10(-7) M [3H] 5-HT. Methyl, ethyl and acetyl substituents in the side chain of H mimicked the stimulatory effect of H. In contrast, H analogs methylated at the position N-1 of the imidazole ring of H, as well as imidazole and histidine inhibited platelet 5-HT uptake. The cAMP-inducing agents forskolin and theophylline have no effect on 5-HT uptake when they are tested alone or in combinations with H. In contrast, the cGMP-inducing agent sodium nitroprusside (10(-7) M-10(-6) M) stimulated and potentiated H-mediated up-regulation of 5-HT uptake. Histamine H2 receptor agonists and antagonists are more potent than drugs acting on H1 receptors (H2 greater than H1). However, the inhibition constants Ki are not consistent with those determined for typical H1, H2, H3 receptors characterized in other tissues. This findings provide further evidence for the existence of multiple forms of H receptors and suggest the involvement of a subpopulation of H2 receptors, highly sensitive to H2 receptor antagonists (H2h), mediating 5-HT uptake in human platelets.