title: Effect of histamine on the electrophysiology of the human parietal pleura.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Histamine is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases and regulates the permeability of different tissues. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of histamine on the electrophysiology of human parietal pleura and the underlying mechanisms involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pleural specimens were obtained from patients subjected to thoracic surgery and were mounted in Ussing chambers. Histamine solutions (1μM to 1mM) were applied in native and pretreated specimens with dimetindene maleate, cetirizine, ranitidine, amiloride and ouabain. Trans-mesothelial resistance was determined (R(TM)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histamine induced a rapid R(TM) increase on the mesothelial (p = 0.008) and a decrease on the interstitial surface (p = 0.029). This effect was dose-dependent and was totally abolished by dimetindene maleate, cetirizine and amiloride and partially by ranitidine and ouabain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histamine induces acute electrochemical changes in human pleura mainly via interaction with the H(1) and partially with the H(2) histamine receptors. It also interferes with trans-cellular permeability and therefore may participate in pleural fluid recycling.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Physiology, Larissa Medical School, University of Thessaly, Greece. vasileios@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kouritas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsantsaridou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tepetes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsilimingas
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Gourgoulianis
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Molyvdas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hatzoglou
mesh_terms: D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D010994:Pleura / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017442:Histamine Agonists; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2; D010042:Ouabain; D000584:Amiloride; D006632:Histamine