Release of prostaglandins from healthy and sensitized guinea-pig lung and trachea by histamine.

The effects of histamine and its antagonists on the release of prostaglandin E and F2alpha (PGE and PGF2alpha) and the 15-keto-13,14-dihydro PGF2alpha/E (metabolites) were examined in minced and whole perfused guinea pig lung. Lung fragments released considerable amounts of prostaglandins into the incubation media with time alone: parenchyma more PGF2alpha than PGE, trachea more PGE than PGF2alpha. The levels of PGF2alpha found in the filtrates of both tissues on per gram basis were about the same, whereas the concentrations of PGE were several fold higher in the media of incubated trachea. In contrast to lung, trachea released only trace amounts of metabolites. These differences in synthesis and turnover are probably of importance for maintenance of the adequate ventilation-perfusion ratios. The process of sensitization caused a significant increase in the outflows of PGF2alpha and metabolites from the lung fragments. The PGE to PGF2alpha ratio was decreased in both parenchymal and tracheal tissues. Increased spontaneous release of prostaglandins was also found in whole perfused sensitized lung. This was consistent with the hypothesis that sensitization with antigen alters the biochemical properties of the organism. Incubation of lung fragments with histamine had only a small additional effect on the liberation of prostaglandins, since the baseline release was high due to the trauma of mincing. However, histamine perfusion of whole lung caused severalfold increase in the outflows of prostaglandins. Pretreatment with pyrilamine (histamine receptor 1 antagonist) decreased the subsequent release of PGF2alpha by histamine. On the other hand, pretreatment with metiamide (histamine receptor 2 antagonist) diminished the subsequent release of PGE. It is suggested that stimulation of histamine receptor 1 is predominantly (but not solely) related to the synthesis of PGF2alpha, and stimulation of the receptor 2 is related to the synthesis of PGE.