Histamine Induced Changes in Phospholipase C Activity, Calcium Mobilization, and Contractility in Human Ciliary Muscle Cells

Date

1996-06-01

Authors

Markwardt, Kerry L.

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Abstract

Markwardt, Kerry L., Histamine induced changes in phospholipase C activity, calcium mobilization, and contractility in human ciliary muscle cells. Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences), June, 1996. Histamine has long been known to be an important mediator of inflammation and autocoid throughout the body. It has been shown to cause the contraction of many types of smooth muscle. Due to its known presence in many ocular structures and aqueous humor especially during inflammatory states, it was hypothesized that histamine could have an effect on intraocular pressure (IOP). This could occur if histamine triggered events which ultimately lead to contraction of the ciliary muscle, since it is established that contraction of the ciliary muscle affects aqueous humor outflow. Therefore, it was hypothesized in this study, the histamine causes increases in inositol phosphate production and intracellular calcium in human ciliary muscle cells which ultimately leads to contraction. To test this hypothesis, human ciliary muscle (CM) cells were cultured and used in various experiments to determine the effect of histamine on inositol phosphate production, intracellular calcium mobilization, and contractility. This study, for the first time in CM cells, showed that histamine, via an H1 receptor subtype, caused dose dependent increases in both inositol phosphates and intracellular calcium. Furthermore, it was shown that these histamine-induced events ultimately lead to contraction of the CM cells. Combining the results from all our studies, the data indicate that in human CM cells, histamine via an H1 receptor, activates phospholipase C which generates inositol phosphates such as inositol triphosphate (IP3). IP3 binds to an IP3 sensitive receptor on the endoplasmic reticulum causing the initial release of calcium which is sufficient to cause contraction of the CM cells. The intracellular release of calcium is also involved in activating a calcium channel which allows the influx of extracellular calcium into the cell. The results of these studies suggest that histamine could potentially have an IOP lowering effect in the eye due to contraction of the ciliary muscle. Overall, these studies contribute to a better understanding of the effect of histamine on a key IOP regulating tissue in the eye.

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