Role of histamine H3 receptor in glucagon-secreting αTC1.6 cells.

Pancreatic α-cells secrete glucagon to maintain energy homeostasis. Although histamine has an important role in energy homeostasis, the expression and function of histamine receptors in pancreatic α-cells remains unknown. We found that the histamine H 3 receptor (H 3 R) was expressed in mouse pancreatic α-cells and αTC1.6 cells, a mouse pancreatic α-cell line. H 3 R inhibited glucagon secretion from αTC1.6 cells by inhibiting an increase in intracellular Ca 2+ concentration. We also found that immepip, a selective H 3 R agonist, decreased serum glucagon concentration in rats. These results suggest that H 3 R modulates glucagon secretion from pancreatic α-cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]