Roles of histamine receptor in a guinea pig asthma model

Histamine plays an important role in broncho constriction mediated by histamine receptors which provoke bronchial asthma attack. In this study, we measured H-1 and H-2 receptors in the guinea pig lung membrane fraction and obtained the following results. The maximum binding (B-max) of H-1 receptors in the guinea pig lung membrane fraction was significantly higher in the OA-sensitized group than that in the non-sensitized group, but affinity (K-d) did not differ between the groups. Otherwise, the maximum binding (B-max) of H-2 receptors in the guinea pig lung membrane fr;action was significantly lower in the OA-sensifized group than that in the non-sensitized group. But affinity (K-d) did not differ between the-groups. These findings suggest a close association of Histamine receptors both H-1 and H-2 in the pathology of asthma. (C) 1998 International Society for Immunopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.