[The histaminergic system: a target for innovative treatments of cognitive deficits]
Mouhammad Motawaj1, Aude Burban, Elisabeth Davenas
1Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et Pharmacologie Moléculaire, Inserm U894, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Paris, France.
Abstract:
The central effects of histamine are mediated by H(1), H(2) and H(3) receptors. The H(3) receptor inhibits histamine release in brain. Therefore, H(3) receptor inverse agonists, by suppressing this brake, enhance histamine neuron activity. The histaminergic system plays a major role in cognition and H(3) receptor inverse agonists are expected to be a potential therapeutics for cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's disease (AD). They are eagerly awaited inasmuch as other treatments of the disease, such as tacrine or memantine, also enhance, through different mechanisms, histaminergic neurotransmission. An important loss of histaminergic neurons has been observed in AD. In contrast, levels of the histamine metabolite in the CSF of AD patients show that their global activity is decreased by only 25%. This indicates that activating histamine neurons in AD can be envisaged.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Cholinergic Antagonists: Therapeutic Uses
Respiratory Tract: Ipratropium, aclidinium, and tiotropium treat asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They protect against bronchoconstriction caused by irritants like cigarette smoke, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. They also help reduce nasopharyngeal secretions in common...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

