OBJECTIVE: To investigate the function and characteristics of histamine receptors on the hemopoietic progenitor cells.METHODS: BDF1 mice (both male and female), inbred at our university, aged 8-12 weeks, weighing 20-24 g, were used in this study. Bone marrow cells were incubated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C with 2-AT (H1 receptor agonist) or impromidine (H2 receptor agonist) alone, or in combination with the antagonists pyrilamine or cimetidine respectively. Control experiment was performed in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) alone. Cells treated with different drugs were performed by colony forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and colony forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg) assay.RESULTS: When bone marrow cells were treated with 10(-8) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L of 2-thiazolylethylamine (2-AT) which had no influence on CFU-GM and CFU-Meg proliferation, 10(-8) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L of impromidine could increase the number of CFU-GM and CFU-Meg colonies. The effects of H2 receptor agonists on CFU-GM, CFU-Meg could be antagonized by H1 receptor agonist.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the existence of histamine H1 and H2 receptors on the hemopoietic progenitor cells and the antagonism between two different histamine receptor subtypes on the proliferation of CFU-GM and CFU-Meg.
Animals Bone Marrow Cells