Histamine modulation of urinary bladder urothelium, lamina propria and detrusor contractile activity via H1 and H2 receptors

The mechanisms underlying bladder contractile disorders such as overactive bladder are not fully understood, and there is limited understanding of the receptor systems modulating spontaneous bladder contractions. We investigated the potential for histamine to have a role in mediating contractility of the urothelium with lamina propria (U&LP) or detrusor via the H1-H4 histamine receptor subtypes. Isolated strips of porcine U&LP or detrusor smooth muscle were mounted in gassed Krebs-bicarbonate solution and responses to histamine obtained in the absence and presence of selective receptor antagonists. The presence of histamine increases the frequency of U&LP spontaneous phasic contractions and baseline tensions. In response to histamine, H1-antagonists pyrilamine, fexofenadine and cyproheptadine were effective at inhibiting contractile responses. Cimetidine (H2-antagonist) enhanced increases in baseline tension in response histamine, whereas amthamine (H2-agonist) induced relaxation. Although thioperamide (H3/H4-antagonist) increased baseline tension responses to histamine, selective H1/H2-receptor antagonism revealed no influence of these receptors. In detrusor preparations, pyrilamine, fexofenadine and cyproheptadine were effective at inhibiting baseline tension increases in response to histamine. Our findings provide evidence that histamine produces contractile responses both in the U&LP and detrusor via the H1-receptor, and this response is significantly inhibited by activation of the H2-receptor in the U&LP but not the detrusor.