Abstract
The neurotoxicity of the histamine H2 agonist dimaprit was characterized. Dimaprit (100 μg administered into the lateral cerebral ventricle) induced a large area of brain necrosis 1–3 days later which was uniformly lethal. Lower doses caused dose — related effects on survival, gross brain pathology and body weight. Experiments with other H2 agonists and H2 antagonists, together with studies by others demonstrating a similar toxicity of the congener homodimaprit suggest that the neurotoxicity of dimaprit is independent of brain H2 receptors. Although dimaprit is a useful tool for the characterization of H2 receptor responses, the present results show that this agent must be used with caution, if at all, in classifying brain H2-receptor mediated events.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. E. Parsons, D. A. A. Owen, C. R. Ganellin and G. J. Durant,Dimaprit-[S-[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]isothiourea] — a highly specific histamine H 2-receptor agonist. Part 1. Pharmacology. Agents and Actions7, 31–37 (1977).
G. J. Durant, C. R. Granellin and M. E. Parsons,Dimaprit, [S-[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]isotiourea — a highly specific histamine H 2 receptor agonist. Part 2. Structure-activity considerations. Agents and Actions7, 39–43 (1977).
C. R. Ganellin,Chemistry and structure-activity relationships of drugs acting at histamine receptors. InPharmacology of histamine receptors. (Eds. C. R. Ganellin and M. E. Parsons) pp. 10–102. John Wright & Sons, Ltd., Bristol 1982.
L. B. Hough and J. P. Green,Histamine and its receptors in the nervous system. InHandbook of neurochemistry (2nd ed.) (Ed. A. Lajtha) pp. 148–211, Plenum Press, New York 1984.
G. D. Prell and J. P. Green,Histamine as a neuroregulator. Annu. Rev. Neurosci.9, 209–254 (1986).
L. B. Hough,Cellular localization and possible functions for brain histamine: recent progress. InProgress in neurobiology (Eds. G. A. Kerkut and J. W. Phillis) pp. 469–505. Pergamon Press, Oxford 1988.
C. Netti, F. Guidobono, V. Sibilia, I. Villa, E. Cazzamalli and A. Pecile,Central effects of histamine H 2-receptor agonists and antagonists on nociception in the rat. Agents and Actions23, 247–249 (1988).
C. Netti, R. Bossa, I. Galatulas, V. Sibilia and A. Pecile,Antinociceptive effect of centrally administered cimetidine and dimaprit in the rat. Pharmacology28, 262–267 (1984).
Z. J. Nowak, E. Ferrario and U. Lebrecht,Dimaprit-induced hypothermia in normal rats: its attenuation by cimetidine and by tricyclic antidepressant drugs. Neuropharmacology18, 783–789 (1979).
G. Nistico, D. Rotiroti, A. De Sarro, F. Naccari and J. D. Stephenson,Central effects of histamine and H 1 ad H2 receptors agonists and antagonists after intraventricular infusion in fowls. Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol.27, 431–450 (1980).
A. Pilc and J. Z. Nowak,The influence of 4-methylhistamine, an agonist of histamine H 2 receptors on body temperature in rats. Neuropharmacology19, 773–775 (1980).
O. Colboc, P. Protais and J. Costentin,Histamine-induced rise in core temperature of chloral-anaesthetized rats: mediation by H 2-receptors located in the preopticus area of hypothalamus. Neuropharmacol.21, 45–50 (1982).
W. G. Clark and J. M. Lipton,Changes in body temperature after administration of acetylcholine, histamine, morphine, prostaglandins and related agents: II. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev.9, 479–552 (1985).
J. Bugajski, A. Gadek and B. Cetera,The interaction of ethanol with central histaminergic stimulation of the pituitary-adrenocortical and hyperlipemic activity. Agents and Actions18, 226–230 (1986).
A. Gadek, B. Cetera and J. Bugajski,Central histaminergic stimulation of corticosterone and hyperlipemic responses after chronic ethanol consumption in rats. Agents and Actions20, 258–261 (1987).
J. Bugajski and A. Gadek,Hyperlipemic responses induced by centrally administered histamine H 1- and H2-receptor agonists in rats. Agents and Actions20, 255–257 (1987).
P. E. Hicks,Central cardiovascular actions of histamine in rats: involvement of histamine H 2-receptors. Clin. Exp. Hypertens.1, 251–265 (1978).
L. Tuomisto and L. Eriksson,Cardiovascular and behavioural changes after i.c.v. infusions of histamine and agonists in conscious goat. Agents and Actions10, 165–166 (1980).
A. Philippu and K. Wiedemann,Hypothalamic superfusion with histamine agonists and antagonists modifies the pressor response to hypothalamic stimulation. Agents and Actions11, 143–144 (1981).
A. Philippu and K. Wiedemann,Hypothalamic superfusion with histamine agonists and antagonists modifies the pressor response to hypothalamic stimulation. J. Auton. Pharmacol.1, 111–117 (1981).
A. R. Granata and D. J. Reis,Hypotension and bradycardia elicited by histamine into the C1 area of the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Eur. J. Pharmacol.136, 157–162 (1987).
I. Paakkari and H. Karppanen,Analeptic effect of centrally administered histamine H 2-receptor agonist dimaprit but not impromidine in urethane-anesthetized rats. Neuropharmacology21, 171–178 (1982).
J. M. Monti, T. Pellejero and H. Jantos,Effects of H 1-and H2-histamine receptor agonists and antagonists on sleep and wakefulness in the rat. J. Neural Transm.66, 1–11 (1986).
M. N. Gannon and L. B. Hough,Histamine receptors coupled to [3H]cAMP accumulation in brain: pharmacological characterization in a vesicular preparation of guinea pig cortex. Mol. Pharmacol.33, 44–50 (1988).
M. Garbarg and J. C. Schwartz,Synergism between histamine H 1- and H2-receptors in the cAMP response in guinea pig brain slices: effects of phorbol esters and calcium. Mol. Pharmacol.33, 38–43 (1988).
K. Ozawa and T. Segawa,Histamine increases phospholipid methylation and H 2-receptor-adenylate cyclase coupling in rat brain. J. Neurochem.50, 1551–1558 (1988).
J. Z. Nowak, B. Sek and B. Szkiel,Histamine-mediated regulation of cAMP levels and inositol phosphate metabolism in isolated rabbit retina. Agents and Actions27, 131–134 (1989).
J. Bugajski and Z. Janusz,Central histaminergic stimulation of pituitary-adrenocortical response in the rat. Life. Sci.33, 1179–1189 (1983).
A. O. Donoso and M. B. Zarate,Release of prolactin and luteinizing hormone by histamine agonists in ovariectomized, steroid-treated rats under ether anesthesia. Exp. Brain. Res.52, 277–280 (1983).
G. DiRenzo, V. Basile, S. Amoroso, G. Lombardi and L. Annunziato,Effect of dimaprit, a selective histamine H 2-receptor agonist, on prolactin secretion in male rats. Neuroendocrinol. Lett.8, 33–39 (1986).
G. F. Di Renzo, V. Basile, S. Amoroso, M. Taglialatela, F. Maurano and L. Annunziato,Possible inhibitory role of histamine H 2 receptors in the control of basal TSH secretion in male rats: studies with dimaprit, a selective H 2 receptor agonist. J. Neural. Transm.69, 313–318 (1987).
U. Knigge, I. Sleimann, S. Matzen and J. Warberg,Histaminergic regulation of prolactin secretion: involvement of serotoninergic neurons. Neuroendocrinology48, 527–533 (1988).
C. Netti, V. Sibilia, F. Guidobono, I. Villa, P. Franco and A. Pecile,Further evidence that brain histamine H 2 receptors are stimulatory in the control of prolactin in the rat. Acta Endocrinol. (Copenh.)119, 488–492 (1988).
A. Gadek Michalska and J. Bugajski,Naloxone antagonizes a central histaminergic stimulation of corticosterone secretion in rats. Agents and Actions23, 254–256 (1988).
U. Knigge, F. W. Bach, S. Matzen, P. Bang and J. Warberg,Effect of histamine on the secretion of pro-opiomelanocortin derived peptides in rats. Acta Endocrinol. (Copenh.)119, 312–319 (1988).
J. Z. Nowak, B. Bielkiewicz, U. Lebrecht, A. Kordecka and C. Maslinski,Effects of the histamine H 2-receptor agonists dimaprit and 4-methylhistamine on the central noradrenaline and serotonin system. Agents and Actions10, 167–172 (1980).
P. Blandina, P. J. Knott, L. K. Leung and J. P. Green,Stimulation of histamine H 2 receptor in rat hypothalamus releases endogenous norepinephrine. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.249, 44–51 (1989).
L. A. Crane and S. D. Glick,Simple cannula for repeated intracerebral drug administration in rats. Phamacol. Biochem. Behav.10, 799–800 (1979).
G. Paxinos and C. Watson,The rat brain in stereotaxic coordinates. Academic Press, Sydney 1982.
R. D. Myers,General laboratory procedures. InMethods in psychobiology. (Ed. R. D. Myers) pp. 65. Academic Press, London 1971.
W. J. Dixon,BMDP statistical software manual. pp. 359. University of California Press, Berkley 1985.
E. Bors and A. E. Comarr,Neurological urology: physiology of micturition, its neurological disorders and sequelae. University Park Press, Baltimore 1971.
C. R. Calcutt, C. R. Ganellin, R. Griffiths, B. K. Leigh, J. P. Maguire, R. C. Mitchell, M. E. Mylek, M. E. Parsons, I. R. Smith and R. C. Young,Zolantidine (SK&F 95282) is a potent selective brain-penetrating histamine H 2-receptor antagonist. Br. J. Pharmacol.93, 69–78 (1988).
M. C. Klein, J. J. Poulakos, S. B. Gertner and A. Siegel,The neurotoxcity of homodimaprit (SKF-91488): sites of action assessed by the [14C]2-deoxyglucose technique. Drug Devel. Res.3, 581–587 (1983).
P. J. Gatti and S. B. Gertner,The effect of intrahypothalamic injection of homodimaprit on blood pressure. Neuropharmacology23, 663–670 (1984).
L. Petit, F. Leperchey and E. Fournier,Experimental toxicology of the isothioureas. Poumon Cœur26, 893–894 (1990).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Swaab, R.L., Battles, A.M., Bruner, C.A. et al. Dimaprit — induced neurotoxicity. Agents and Actions 35, 179–184 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01997497
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01997497