HISTAMINE-INDUCED CYTOSOLIC CALCIUM INCREASE IN PORCINE ARTICULAR CHONDROCYTES

Chondrocytes have been shown to possess two types of histamine recepto rs, H-1 and H-2. The application of histamine to isolated porcine chon drocytes was found to significantly increase intracellular calcium and this increase was partially dependent upon the presence of extracellu lar calcium. This, therefore, implies that there is some role for a pl asma membrane calcium transport system in the increase of cytosolic ca lcium in response to histamine. The increase in intracellular calcium in response to the application of histamine was found to be reduced by both H-1 and H-2 receptor antagonists.