Localization and function of histamine H3 receptor in the nasal mucosa.
BACKGROUND
Histamine is an important chemical mediator of allergic rhinitis (AR). Histamine H(3) receptors (H(3)R) are located on cholinergic and NANC neurons of the myenteric plexus, and activation of H(3)R regulates gastric acid secretion. However, little is known about the localization and function of H(3)R in the upper airway.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the localization and possible function of H(3)R in the nasal mucosa.


METHODS
We extracted total RNA from the inferior turbinate mucosa of patients with AR. H(3)R mRNA and beta-actin mRNA were amplified by RT-PCR. We used immunohistochemistry to examine localization of H(3)R protein in the inferior turbinate mucosa excised during clinically indicated surgery. We used alcian blue/periodic acid-shiff staining to examine the effects of the H(3)R agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine and the H(3)R antagonist thioperamide on secretion from rat submucosal glands.


RESULTS
H(3)R protein was expressed around submucosal gland cells. Thioperamide induced degranulation in the submucosal gland in the nasal septum.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that H(3)R is localized mainly around submucosal glands, and that H(3)R plays an important role in the secretion of submucosal glands in the nose.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
S
S
Suzuki
K
K
Takeuchi
Y
Y
Majima
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D054828:Histamine H3 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008761:Methylhistamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D054828:Histamine H3 Antagonists; D008761:Methylhistamines; D010880:Piperidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3; C052075:thioperamide