title: Comparison of histamine-H(1) receptors in bovine intracerebral microvessels with cerebral grey matter by [(3)H]mepyramine binding.
abstract: Small intracerebral blood vessels (microvessels) of bovine brain are known to contain the vasoactive amine histamine, and the presence of histamine-H(1) receptors in microvessels was examined using the radioligand, [(3)H]mepyramine. Microvessels were isolated from cerebral cortex grey matter, striatum and hippocampus by a sieving technique and membranes prepared for binding studies. [(3)H]Mepyramine bound to a single, high affinity site, which displayed stereoselectivity for (+) chlorpheniramine relative to its (?) isomer and was consistent with binding to H(1)-receptors. The density of binding sites (B(max)), in microvessel membranes from cortical grey matter, was approximately one-third of that seen in membranes prepared from cortical grey matter. Microvessels isolated from striata and hippocampi had a similar density of H(1)-receptor sites to that seen in cortical microvessels. These results demonstrate that bovine intracerebral microvessels contain significant numbers of histamine-H(1) receptors and strengthen the hypothesis that histamine could regulate the calibre of intracerebral blood vessels.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg 3084, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Culvenor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jarrott