Characterization of an adenylate cyclase system sensitive to histamine H2-receptor excitation in cells from dog gastric mucosa

Histamine does not potentiate cyclic AMP-mediated amylase secretion in the guinea-pig pancreatic acinar cells

1. This study investigates the interaction between histamine and the adenylate cyclase systems involved in the secretion of amylase in isolated guinea-pig pancreatic acinar cells. 2. Histamine caused does-related enhancement of amylase release. Similarly, incubation of acini with increasing concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) resulted in a typical dose-dependent increase in amylase output. 3. When pancreatic acinar cells were incubated with histamine in combination with VIP, amylase secretion did not differ statistically from secretion induced by histamine or VIP alone and was significantly lower than theoretical additivity. Additionally, amylase secretion in the presence of histamine plus forskolin was significantly less than additive. The action of histamine was equally effective as VIP in causing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) increase. 4. These results indicate that histamine may exert its secretory effects via the cyclic AMP pathway in the exocrine guinea-pig pancreas.

Comparative study of the control of basal acid output from rodent isolated stomachs

1. Isolated, lumen-perfused, whole stomach preparations from mouse and immature rat produced a stable basal acid output which, although not blocked by histamine H2-, acetylcholine M- or CCKB/gastrin receptor antagonists, was almostly completely blocked by the H+/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, omeprazole, and the metabolic inhibitor, sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN). 2. Fully-defined concentration-effect curves could be obtained on both assays with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, isobutyl methylxanthine (IBMX) and with dibutyryl cyclic AMP. 3. On the rat stomach assay, histamine H2-receptor blockade had no effect on the IBMX curve. In contrast, the IBMX response in the mouse was abolished by histamine H2-receptor blockade. On both assays responses to dibutyryl cyclic AMP were resistant to H2-receptor blockade. 4. In the absence of suprathreshold endogenous histamine, it is argued that H+/K(+)-ATPase mediated basal acid secretion from the mouse stomach assay is regulated by something other than cyclic AMP.

Effects of H1-receptor antagonists on 14C-aminopyrine accumulated in histamine-stimulated rabbit gastric glands

After stimulation of gastric acid production there is a considerable delay before the acid starts to appear in the gastric lumen. The present study was carried out on isolated gastric glands to test the hypothesis that there may be a mechanism in the parietal cell that contributes to this delay by preventing emptying of the secretory canaliculi. Glands were incubated with 14C-aminopyrine and stimulated with histamine. After accumulation of 14C-aminopyrine various concentrations of H1-receptor antagonists were added. Clemastine, promethazine, and hydroxyzine effectively and cetirizine and tripelennamine less effectively decreased the accumulated 14C-aminopyrine content in a dose-dependent manner without significantly reducing the oxygen consumption. The H1-receptor antagonists influenced the 14C-aminopyrine content in another manner than H2-receptor antagonists. No effects were obtained by atropine or lidocaine, indicating that the elimination of 14C-aminopyrine is not an anticholinergic effect or due to membrane effects as exerted by local anesthetics. Stimulation of glands by further addition of histamine did not significantly stimulate the uptake of 14C-aminopyrine in the glands, whereas stimulation with db-cAMP produced an increase that was most pronounced when low concentrations of hydroxyzine had been used. It is suggested that H1-receptor antagonists do not inhibit stimulation of acid production in the secretory canaliculi. They may, however, interfere with a mechanism preventing acid from leaving the parietal cell. Such a mechanism may contribute to the delay in appearance of acid in the gastric lumen after stimulation of gastric acid production.

Histamine receptors: subclasses and specific ligands

In this review the three main types of histamine receptors are discussed together with their specific ligands. For the classical H1-receptors much emphasis is put on the mechanism by which the receptor is stimulated. For the H1- and H2-receptor the review includes information on the several models available for establishing agonistic or antagonistic activity. In the section on the H3-receptor the ligands are discussed as well as the possible physiological role of this receptor. In the final paragraphs some less well defined activities are presented.

Pharmacological control of the human gastric histamine H2 receptor by famotidine: comparison with H1, H2 and H3 receptor agonists and antagonists

Histamine 0.1 microM-0.1 mM increased adenylate cyclase activity five- to ten-fold in human fundic membranes, with a potency Ka = 3 microM. The histamine dose-response curve was mimicked by the H3 receptor agonist (R) alpha-MeHA, but at 100 times lower potency, Ka = 0.3 mM. Histamine-induced adenylate cyclase activation was abolished by H2, H1 and H3 receptor antagonists, according to the following order of potency IC50: famotidine (0.3 microM) greater than triprolidine (0.1 mM) thioperamide (2 mM), respectively. Famotidine has no action on membrane components activating the adenylate cyclase system, including the Gs subunit of the enzyme stimulated by forskolin and cell surface receptors sensitive to isoproterenol (beta 2-type), PGE2 and VIP. The Schild plot was linear for famotidine (P less than 0.01) with a regression coefficient r = 0.678. The slope of the regression line was 0.64 and differs from unity. Accordingly, famotidine showed a slow onset of inhibition and dissociation from the H2 receptor in human cancerous HGT-1 cells. The results demonstrate that famotidine is a potent and selective H2 receptor antagonist with uncompetitive actions in human gastric mucosa. Consequently, famotidine might be a suitable drug with long-lasting actions in the treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The results also confirm and extend the previous observations that (R) alpha-MeHA and thioperamide are two selective ligands at histamine H3 receptor sites. In the human gastric mucosa, these drugs are respectively 330 and 6700 times less potent than histamine and famotidine on the adenylate cyclase system. The possible involvement of histamine H3 receptors in the regulation of gastric secretion is proposed.

Membrane receptors in the gastrointestinal tract

This review focusses on the roles that membrane receptors and their transducers play in the physiology and pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. The multifactorial regulation of [correction] mucosal growth and function is discussed in relation to the heterogeneity of exocrine and endocrine populations that originate from progenitor cells in stomach and intestine.

Cyclic AMP in gastric juice does not reflect histamine H2 receptor activity in Heidenhain pouch dog

It is strongly believed that cAMP mediates histamine H2 receptor activity, but does not mediate gastrin and acetylcholine stimulation of gastric acid secretion. Therefore, cAMP production could be a marker of H2 receptor activity. Whether endogenous histamine mediates gastrin and/or acetylcholine stimulation, at least partially, remains to be elucidated. If cAMP in the gastric juice reflects H2 receptor activity, we can investigate whether endogenous histamine mediates gastrin and/or acetylcholine stimulation in vivo. In this study, we investigated whether cAMP in the gastric juice reflected histamine H2 receptor activity in the Heidenhain pouch dog in vivo using different kinds of inhibitors of gastric secretion. Our hypothesis was as follows: Upon betazole stimulation, cimetidine, an H2 receptor antagonist, should decrease cAMP output into the gastric juice, but omeprazole, an H+, K+-ATPase blocker, should not, because it blocks at a site more peripheral than the H2 receptor and the production of cAMP. Sixty minutes after betazole administration, 4.0 mumol/kg of cimetidine and 0.18 mumol/kg omeprazole were administered intravenously and they inhibited gastric juice volume to a similar degree, that is, 49.6% and 52.1%, respectively. However, omeprazole caused a greater decrease in cAMP output than cimetidine. Inhibition with 4 mumol/kg/h of cimetidine or 0.2 mumol/kg of omeprazole from the beginning of betazole stimulation also caused similar decreases in gastric juice volume, 66.6% and 60.6%, respectively. Both inhibitors decreased cAMP output into the gastric juice in a similar fashion in the first two 30 minute periods. These results do not agree with our hypothesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of high-nutrient urea on in vitro bullfrog fundic mucosa

The effects of nutrient urea (240 mM) on H+ secretion, potential difference, and resistance were studied in isolated sheets of bullfrog fundic mucosa. H+ secretion was significantly reduced while transmucosal resistance was significantly increased and potential difference was significantly decreased. Measurement of CO2 utilization by, and distribution across, the mucosal sheets demonstrated that oxidative metabolism is increased (tCO2, 4.93 +/- 0.2 to 5.83 +/- 0.3 mumole/cm2 hr-1, P less than 0.05) and that generation of protons (H+) within the oxyntic cell is stimulated (delta CO2, 1.48 +/- 0.1 to 2.22 +/- 0.2 mumole/cm2 hr-1, P less than 0.05, and nutrient HCO-3 1.35 +/- 0.2 to 2.21 +/- 0.2 mueq/cm2 hr-1, P less than 0.05) in spite of paradoxically diminished H+ appearance on the secretory surface. Studies using 120 and 60 mM urea suggest that the effects may be dose dependent. Results with 240 mM sucrose on the nutrient surface would indicate that those seen with urea cannot be attributed entirely to the hyperosmolality. Pretreatment of the mucosal sheets with metiamide (10(-3) M) resulted in the expected decrease in titratable H+ (to 0) but had no effect on urea-stimulated oxidative metabolism (tCO2, 2.09 +/- 0.2 to 2.91 +/- 0.4 mumole/cm2 hr-1, P less than 0.02) or the generation of protons by the oxyntic cell (delta CO2, 0.68 +/- 0.1 to 1.35 +/- 0.3 mumole/cm2 hr-1, P less than 0.02, and nutrient HCO3- 0.83 +/- 0.1 to 1.65 +/- 0.3 mueq/cm2 hr-1, P less than 0.05). Both simultaneous or subsequent treatment with theophylline (5 X 10(-3) M) reversed the inhibitory effect of urea on H+ secretion. Transmission electron microscopy revealed involution of the secretory membrane following treatment with urea but maintenance of the microvillous secreting configuration of the membrane when theophylline was added to the nutrient solution. These results suggest that although nutrient urea stimulates the generation of H+ within the cell it simultaneously inhibits release of H+ by the secretory membrane. Failure to inhibit urea-stimulated generation of H+ within the cell by metiamide indicates that the increased oxidative metabolism and generation of protons stimulated by nutrient urea is probably not histamine-mediated. It is suggested that urea inhibits adenylyl cyclase and thus cAMP-mediated evolution of the secretory membrane with reduced H+ transport, an effect that can be reversed by inhibiting phosphodiesterase with theophylline.

Targeted immobilization of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides on agarose and on Acrylex polymers

A new strategy was devised for the targeted immobilization of ligands on aminohexyl- and carboxyhexyl-agarose. Selectively protected neurotransmitter amino acids and neuropeptides were coupled to amino or carboxyl group-containing agarose derivatives using activated esters, mixed anhydrides or carbodiimides. After coupling, agarose beads were dehydrated and the protecting groups were cleaved in non-aqueous media with acids (trifluoroacetic acid, formic acid). Agarose beads were rehydrated and applied for affinity chromatography and cell surface recognition. The same compounds were coupled to derivatized polyacrylamide beads containing primary amino (Acrylex A), acyl hydrazide (Acrylex AH-100) or carboxyl (Acrylex C-100) groups. Protecting groups were removed by acidolytic cleavage. Oxytocin, vasopressin, tetra- and pentagastrin, cholecystokinin, leucine-enkephalin and carboxyl-bearing derivatives of the neurotransmitters noradrenaline, dopamine, histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid were immunobilized on agarose and on derivatized polyacrylamide gels.

New horizons in the pharmacologic management of peptic ulceration

Greatly improved understanding of the cellular basis for gastric acid secretion and gastroduodenal mucosal defense has led to a dramatic improvement in the pharmacologic treatment of peptic ulcer disease. The advances produced by cimetidine and ranitidine are being continued by a new generation of histamine receptor antagonists, as well as by other anti-ulcer agents. These new drugs, when used appropriately, will greatly expand the surgeon's ability to treat patients with peptic ulcer disease. A knowledge of the pathophysiologic characteristics of peptic ulceration and of the inherent limitations of each agent will become increasingly important for surgeons who treat these patients.

H2 histamine receptors on the epithelial cells of choroid plexus

A major site of cerebrospinal fluid production in vertebrates is the choroid plexus. The epithelial cells of the choroid plexus accumulate intracellular cyclic AMP in response to several effectors, including histamine. Since histamine is known to regulate fluid secretion in the stomach via H2 histamine receptors, we asked whether H2 receptors might also be present on epithelial cells of bovine choroid plexus. Using agonists and antagonists of histamine, we show that an agonist and antagonist pair specific for the H2 subtype were clearly more effective than an H1 agonist and antagonist pair in mimicking or inhibiting histamine stimulation of cellular cyclic AMP. Analysis by Schild plot allowed assignment of an apparent dissociation constant to the H2 antagonist metiamide which was 34-fold lower than that of its H1 counterpart, diphenhydramine. These results indicate that epithelial cells of the choroid plexus possess H2 histamine receptors.

Pharmacological analysis of the muscarinic receptors involved when McN-A 343 stimulates acid secretion in the mouse isolated stomach

In view of the recent M1 and M2 subclassification of muscarinic receptors and the suggestion of separate populations of muscarinic receptors on oxyntic and histamine cells in the gastric mucosa, we have analysed the effects of McN-A 343, classified as an M1-selective agonist, on gastric acid secretion by the mouse, isolated, lumen-perfused stomach assay. Acid secretion stimulated by McN-A 343 was not inhibited by tetrodotoxin pretreatment, although it was competitively antagonized by atropine (pKB 7.90), suggesting a muscarinic site of action between postganglionic neurones and the final secretory event. Acid secretion stimulated by McN-A 343 was more sensitive than 5-methylfurmethide-stimulated secretion to H2-receptor blockade: the profile of inhibition was consistent with expectations for a model of indirect agonism, suggesting that McN-A 343 preferentially stimulated the release of endogenous histamine from mucosal histamine cells. In view of this selective action the McN-A 343-pirenzepine interaction was studied, the latter being classified as an M1-selective antagonist. Results were consistent with expectations for a competitive interaction but the pKB (6.69) was not significantly different from the value obtained at the oxyntic cell, using 5-methylfurmethide as agonist in the presence of H2-receptor blockade, in a previous study. We suggest that there is no need to postulate differences in oxyntic and histamine cell muscarinic receptors to account for the selective stimulant activity of McN-A 343 observed in this study and the relatively selective inhibition of gastric acid secretion by pirenzepine in vivo. McN-A 343 selectivity may be accounted for by a higher muscarinic receptor density on the histamine cell and pirenzepine selectivity by a smaller degree of loss into the gastric secretion compared to atropine.

The isolated stomach preparation of the mouse: a physiological unit for pharmacological analysis

Although oxyntic cell secretion can be studied at many organisation levels between isolated cell suspensions and non-invasive techniques in animals, the isolated, lumen-perfused, stomach preparation of the mouse represents a hierarchical level which eliminates extrinsic regulatory influences but retains all the cellular architecture known to be necessary for physiological responses and so can be defined as the physiological unit of acid secretion. The feeding pattern before and the distending pressure during an experiment have been identified as the main determinants of basal secretion: the combination of an intragastric pressure of 12 cmH2O and the fasted state generated a stable basal secretion over 2 h providing a satisfactory basis for bioassays. Basal acid secretion was lowered by treatment with omeprazole and sodium thiocyanate but not with tetrodotoxin, N-methylatropine or tiotidine, suggesting that basal secretion does not involve nervous stimulation or the local release of histamine under these experimental conditions. The improved assay permitted the full characterization of cumulative agonist concentration-effect curves in single stomach preparations to histamine, 5-methylfurmethide, pentagastrin and isobutyl-methylxanthine. Interestingly, pentagastrin produced sustained stimulation of gastric acid secretion under conditions when there was no pharmacological evidence that histamine secretion was taking place. This finding is discussed in relation to the role of histamine in the control of gastric acid secretion.

Further analysis of anomalous pKB values for histamine H2-receptor antagonists on the mouse isolated stomach assay

Agonist-antagonist interactions at histamine receptors have been re-examined using improved techniques, on the mouse isolated, lumen-perfused, stomach gastric acid assay. Using histamine as agonist, pKB values have been estimated for burimamide, metiamide, cimetidine, ranitidine, oxmetidine and famotidine on both the gastric and guinea-pig isolated right atrium assays. With the exception of oxmetidine on the atrial assay, these compounds behaved as competitive antagonists on both assays. Oxmetidine significantly depressed basal rate on the atrial assay and the Schild plot slope parameter (0.81) was significantly less than one. The pKB values estimated on the gastric assay were lower than those on the atrial assay. However, the difference between the values on the gastric and atrial assays was not constant. The difference between the two assays for famotidine was not significant. We conclude that the apparent varying selectivity of the antagonists for gastric and atrial histamine H2-receptors may be explained by the differential loss of antagonists into the gastric secretion from the receptor compartment and that there is no need to postulate heterogeneity of histamine H2-receptors.

Forskolin-induced cyclic AMP production and gastric acid secretion in dispersed rabbit parietal cells: novel evidence for a major role of cyclic AMP in acid release

Forskolin, a unique diterpine which is a direct activator of cyclic AMP-generating systems, stimulated both cyclic AMP and acid production in dispersed rabbit parietal cells. This agent was also capable of augmenting the action of histamine on both cyclic AMP and acid production at a low concentration. These findings provided novel evidence for a major role of cyclic AMP in gastric acid secretion.

Comparison of the effect of PGE2 and somatostatin on histamine stimulated 14C-aminopyrine uptake and cyclic AMP formation in isolated rat gastric mucosal cells

In isolated rat gastric cells somatostatin and PGE2 were compared in respect to their effects on the cAMP system and on the histamine-stimulated H+-production, measured by 14C-aminopyrine (14C-AP) uptake. Like PGE2 somatostatin activated adenylate cyclase (AC) for all in non-parietal cells. This effect on AC declined in cell fractions with increasing number of parietal cells. Activation of AC or elevation of cellular cAMP and uptake of 14C-AP in response to histamine were inhibited by 10(-9) to 10(-5) mol/1 PGE2 and somatostatin. The results indicate remarkable similarity between somatostatin and PGE2: both activate a non-parietal cell AC and both inhibit H+-production, likely by interfering at the histamine sensitive AC of the parietal cell.

Action of histamine and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine on cAMP activation of protein kinase in dog gastric mucosa

Dog gastric mucosa was incubated with histamine, IMX and db-cAMP, and the tissue was analyzed for cAMP content and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Results show that in the absence of IMX, histamine does not produce measurable changes in either cAMP content or protein kinase activity ratios. In the presence of 5 X 10(-5) mol/l IMX histamine elicits a dose-dependent accumulation of cAMP, and this accumulation is reflected in elevated protein kinase activity ratios. When IMX concentration is increased to 5 X 10(-4) mol/l, the histamine effect is more pronounced. Incubation of gastric mucosa with 10(-6) mol/l db-cAMP results in elevated cAMP tissue levels both in the absence and presence of IMX, but protein kinase activity ratio is significantly elevated only in the presence of 5 X 10(-4) mol/l IMX. It is concluded that histamine stimulates cAMP formation and protein kinase activation in dog gastric mucosa, but elevations are detectable only when the phosphodiesterase enzyme is inhibited.

Adrenergic stimulation of isolated rat gastric mucosal cells. Effect on adenylate cyclase and 14C-aminopyrine uptake

Adrenergic stimulation of the adenylate cyclase (AC)-cAMP-system and 14C-aminopyrine accumulation, an indirect measure of parietal cell H+-production, was studied in a different preparations of gastric mucosal cells. The beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist hexoprenaline activated AC of crude homogenates from the gastric corpus of mouse, rat, guinea-pig, hog, dog and man. In isolated rat gastric cells (20% parietal cells), treated by low power sonication, 10(-8) to 10(-3) mol/l adrenaline and hexoprenaline activated AC equally potently and efficaciously by maximally 170%. Isoprenaline proved to be less effective activating up to 80%. 5.10(-5) mol/l GMP-PNP augmented basal activity 8.5 times and reduced the maximal efficacy. Adrenaline and hexoprenaline activated AC by maximally 120%, isoprenaline by 40%. The potency of adrenaline was 4 times lower, that of hexoprenaline 2 and that of isoprenaline 4 times higher in the presence of GMP-PNP. Adrenergic stimulation was inhibited by the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol, the effect of alpha-adrenoceptor-blockade by phenoxybenzamine was less pronounced. In fractions with 7-80% of parietal cells, prepared by isopycnic centrifugation with Percoll, adrenaline and hexoprenaline activated AC or hexoprenaline enhanced the cellular levels of cAMP in parietal cell poor and rich fractions. The degree of activation in response to histamine correlated with the number of parietal cells. 14C-Aminopyrine uptake was increasingly stimulated through 10(-8) to 10(-5) mol/l hexoprenaline, maximally by doubling the basal accumulation. 10(-4) mol/l histamine was 8 times more effective. 3.10(-7) mol/l propranolol inhibited the effect of 10(-5) mol/l hexoprenaline by 80%. The data suggest the localization of beta-adrenoceptors (likely beta 2-adrenoceptors) on parietal and other nonidentified gastric cells. At the parietal cell, adrenaline and hexoprenaline initiate activation of AC and hexoprenaline leads to H+-production. The responses are small compared to the effect of histamine. Thus, beta-adrenoceptor agonists exert intrinsic activity in relation to H+-production. Their influence on stimulated secretion of isolated cells remains to be elucidated.

Action of histamine and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on cyclic AMP in gastric glands isolated from human fetal stomach

Histamine and VIP produce an elevation of cAMP production in gastric glands isolated from the human fetal stomach at 15 weeks gestation. These effects were attributed to the activation of 2 distinct receptor-cAMP systems, one being sensitive to histamine in parietal cells, and the other being sensitive to VIP in muco-peptic cell populations. The results suggest that histamine and VIP may play a role in inducing gastric secretion during fetal life in man.

Adenylate cyclase activity in gastric mucosal biopsies and cAMP in gastric juice before and after cimetidine treatment in healthy subjects

Previous studies have revealed augmented parietal call sensitivity to histamine stimulation after cessation of cimetidine treatment in healthy subjects. To elucidate one possible mechanism for this effect, we measured cAMP in gastric mucosa and gastric juice during histamine stimulation in vivo and histamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in vitro in biopsy material obtained by gastroscopy. In eight healthy subjects the cAMP content of gastric corpus mucosal biopsies was measured before, during, and after infusion of 2.5 and 25.6 microgram . kg-1 . h-1 of histamine dihydrochloride. No increase in cAMP content was found. In 10 healthy subjects cAMP secretion into gastric juice was studied before and 36 to 84 h after cessation of 4 weeks' treatment with cimetidine, 1 g/day. No significant increase of cAMP output was found in response to infusion of 2.5 and 25.6 microgram . kg-1 . h-1 of histamine dihydrochloride either before or after the treatment period. Thus histamine does not stimulate cAMP secretion into gastric juice in man. In the same 10 subjects histamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was studied in vitro in biopsy material obtained before and 60 h after cessation of cimetidine treatment. The dose-response curve of the adenylate cyclase activity was not shifted to the left. The results indicate that the augmented parietal cell sensitivity to histamine, seen after stopping cimetidine treatment in healthy subjects, is not due to increased sensitivity of the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system to histamine stimulation.

Specific activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase(s) by H2-histamine agonists in isolated gastric mucosal cells from guinea-pig

Histamine stimulated cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in dispersed mucosal cells from guinea-pig gastric fundus (Ka = 5 microM). The H2-agonists dimaprit and impromidine produced similar effects, while the H1-agonist 2-(2-pyridyl) ethylamine had only a weak one. The H2-antagonist cimetidine competitively inhibited 0.1 mM histamine stimulation (Ki = 2 microM). In contrast, the H1-antagonist diphenhydramine had no effect up to 1 mM.

Estimation of pKB values for histamine H2-receptor antagonists using an in vitro acid secretion assay

1 Histamine H2-receptor antagonism by burimamide, metiamide and cimetidine was analysed under apparent equilibrium conditions in the lumen-perfused isolated stomach preparation of the mouse. 2 The behaviour of these compounds was not incompatible with simple competitive antagonism but the estimated pKB values (-log KB) were all significantly lower, by about 1 log unit, than reference values reported for guinea-pig atrium or rat uterus. 3 There seems no need to propose that the parietal cell receptors are somehow different from the others; metiamide continually appears in the gastric juice so that a steady-state but not equilibrium can presumably be reached with respect to the bath concentration and this could keep the antagonist concentration artificially low in the region of the receptors.

Adenylate cyclase in human gastric mucosa: its activation by histamine in morphologically different biopsy specimens

In morphologically different biopsy specimens from fundic, antral and duodenal mucosa of 134 persons, basal and histamine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was studied: Basal and stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were log-normally distributed. Only in the fundic but not in the antral and duodenal mucosa adenylate cyclase was sensitive to histamine. The mean basal activity in the fundic gastric mucosa was 148, in response to 10(-5) mol/l histamine 292 pmol cAMP/mg protein/20 min. In human fundic biopsy specimens histologically identified as normal gastric mucosa, the stimulatory effect of histamine on adenylate cyclase decreased with the individual's age. In bioptic material from patients suffering from histologically proven chronic gastritis the histamine effect decreased with the degree of atrophy. A similar loss of histamine sensitivity was found in gastric mucosal biopsies of antrectomized individuals operated at least 5 years before by the Billroth I or II method, whereas in the mucosa of patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer no loss occurred. In contrast, the most pronounced stimulatory action of histamine was found in this latter group. Since a histamine sensitive adenylate cyclase is localized only in the glandular area of the fundic mucosa and the histamine sensitivity depends on a morphological intact structure of the mucosa, it can be concluded, that the effects of histamine on adenylate cyclase and on hydrochloric acid acid secretion have to be considered as a mechanism linked together.

Cyclic nucleotides and the regulation of canine gastric acid secretion

The response of the cyclic nucleotide system (cAMP, cGMP, adenylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase, and specific phosphodiesterases) to two gastric acid secretagogues, histamine and acetylcholine, and two secretory inhibitors, prostaglandin E2 and secretin, was studied in vivo and in vitro in canine gastric fundic mucosa. Histamine and acetylcholine in vivo failed to stimulate cAMP but significantly increased cGMP; in vitro they affected neither adenylate cyclase nor guanylate cyclase. Prostaglandin E2 and secretin, however, increased cAMP in vivo and significantly stimulated adenylate cyclase in vitro. Specific phosphodiesterases were unaffected by these compounds. The changes, while not specifically localized to the acid-producing cells, are consistent with the suggestion that the control of canine gastric acid secretion may be mediated by changes in mucosal cAMP and cGMP.

The localization of a histamine H2-receptor adenylate cyclase system in canine parietal cells and its inhibition by prostaglandins

A method is described for the preparation of parietal cell-enriched suspensions from dog gastric mucosa. Histamine and E type prostaglandins produce an elevation of cyclic AMP concentration in mixed cell preparations. Parietal cell-rich fractions respond to histamine but only weakly to prostaglandins whilst in fractions virtually free from parietal cells the converse is observed. Prostaglandins which are good antisecretory agents, PGE1, PGE2 and 16,16 dimethyl PGE2 are potent inhibitors of the histamine elevations of cyclic AMP in parietal cell-rich fractions, whilst PFG2alpha shows 1% of their potency. The experiments described support the view that histamine stimulates gastric acid secretion by excitation of an H2-receptor adenylate cyclase system in the plasma membrane of the parietal cell and that acid secretory inhibition by prostaglandins is a result of inhibition of that system.

Localization of histamine and histamine H2-receptor antagonists in the gastric mucosa

Histamine stimulates acid secretion by the parietal cell and this secretion is inhibited by the histamine H2-receptor antagonists. Whole body autoradiography showed that radioactivity from 14C-histamine was localized in the artery walls of the stomach and in the muscularis mucosae, but that the level in the fundic mucosa was the same as the blood. When the H2-receptor antagonists burimamide, metiamide and cimetidine were labelled with 35S, 14C or 3H and dosed to rats, whole body autoradiography showed that the stomach was predominantly labelled in the glandular mucosa from 5 to 120 min after administration. Microautoradiography in the rat and dog after intravenous injection of [3H]metiamide or [3H]cimetidine demonstrated an uptake of tritium in the parietal cell cytoplasm that was 3- to 4-times greater than that found in adjacent peptic cells or areas of muscularis mucosa. The preferential labelling persisted at a low level up to 6h after injection in the rat. The localization of radioactivity from the H2-antagonists in the parietal cell cytoplasm correlates well with their pharmacological activity in preventing acid secretion from this cell.