Histamine binding to H2 receptors stimulates phospholipid methylation in mast cells

Rat peritoneal mast cells incubated in vitro in the presence of L-[methyl-3H] methionine and exposed to histamine undergo a rapid but transient increase in phospholipid methylation. By using specific H1- and H2-receptor antagonists, and histamine analogues differing in their H2-receptor agonist potency, it has been demonstrated that this metabolic event is dependent on histamine binding to H2-receptors.