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Brain histamine in Alzheimer's disease
R Cacabelos1, A Yamatodani, H Niigawa
1Experimental Psychiatry Unit, Santiago University Medical School, Spain.
Summary
Histamine (HA) levels are significantly elevated in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to controls. This increase in HA may be linked to neuroendocrine, cognitive, and sleep-wakefulness dysfunctions in AD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
Background:
- Histamine (HA) plays a crucial role in various central nervous system (CNS) functions.
- Alterations in neurotransmitter systems are implicated in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify histamine concentrations across 21 brain regions in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) and control subjects (CB).
- To investigate the potential association between altered histamine levels and neurobiological changes in SDAT.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorometric detection was employed to measure HA concentrations.
- Brain tissue samples were analyzed from 21 distinct regions of both SDAT patients and neurologically healthy control subjects.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher histamine levels were observed in multiple brain regions of SDAT patients compared to controls, including the hypothalamus, motor cortex, and hippocampus.
- The posterior hypothalamus exhibited the highest HA concentrations in both groups, with a marked increase in SDAT.
- Lowest HA levels were found in the cerebellum and medulla oblongata, but were still elevated in SDAT.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a widespread increase in brain histamine levels in Alzheimer's disease.
- These elevated HA levels may contribute to or be associated with neuroendocrine, cognitive, neurovascular, and sleep-wake disturbances characteristic of SDAT.
- The findings suggest histamine as a potential biomarker or therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease research.