The Effect of Histamine and H1and H2Receptors on Prolactin and Luteinizing Hormone Release in Humans: Sex Differences and the Role of Stress

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Abstract
The present experiments were performed to investigate the possible role of histamineand its receptors, H1 and H2, in the control of PRL and LH release in normal adult humans of both sexes. Histamine infusion (200 μg, iv, in 15 min) induced PRL and LH release in men; in women, histamine inhibited LH release without affecting PRL release. Two H1, antagonists, dexchlorpheniramine (10 mg, iv) and promethazine (50 mg, im), reduced PRL release in both sexes, stimulated LH release in men, and inhibited LH release in women. Cimetidine, an H2 antagonist (400 mg, iv), elicited PRL release in both sexes, more consistently in females than in males, and was without effect on LH release in either sex. These data suggest that in humans, the effect of histamine on PRL release is linked to H1 and H2 receptors, which respectively stimulate and inhibit PRL release independently of sex. The effect of histamine on LH release appears to depend on sex and to be mediated only by H1receptors. To rule out the possibility that the effects of histamine are merely due to a nonspecific stress reaction, we have evaluated PRL and LH release in otherwise normal men and women undergoing surgery for gallstones. Surgery was accompanied by PRL release in both sexes, more evident in women, and by LH release only in men. These results indicate that the effect ofhistamine on PRL and LH release in humans is linked to sex and H1 and H2 receptors and is not dueto stress; further studies are required to clarify the possible mechanism and site of action ofhistamine in modifying PRL and LH release in humans.