Fetal pulmonary vasodilation by histamine: response to H1 and H2 stimulation

Dev Pharmacol Ther. 1990;14(3):180-6.

Abstract

We measured pulmonary vasodilation induced by histamine, H1 and H2 antagonists, and H1 and H2 agonists in chronically prepared, normally oxygenated fetal sheep in order to study the response of H1 and H2 stimulation in late gestation. Blood flow was measured in the left pulmonary artery; pressures were measured in the main pulmonary artery and abdominal aorta. Histamine administered into the left pulmonary artery caused dose-dependent increases in left pulmonary blood flow without changes in either pulmonary arterial or aortic pressures. Cimetidine (H2 antagonist) and/or diphenhydramine (H1 antagonist) shifted the histamine dose-response curve to the right. 2-Pyridylethylamine (H1 agonist) and dimeprit (H2 agonist) caused vasodilation which was selectively blocked by its respective antagonist. We conclude that both H1 and H2 stimulation cause pulmonary vasodilation in the ovine fetus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Fetus / blood supply
  • Histamine / pharmacology*
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pulmonary Circulation / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Histamine H1 / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Histamine H2 / drug effects*
  • Regional Blood Flow / drug effects
  • Sheep
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Histamine H1 Antagonists
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists
  • Receptors, Histamine H1
  • Receptors, Histamine H2
  • Histamine