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Histamine: neural circuits and new medications
Thomas E Scammell1, Alexander C Jackson2, Nicholas P Franks3
1Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Sleep
|September 22, 2018
Summary
Histamine signaling in the brain is crucial for regulating wakefulness. Enhancing histamine activity shows promise in treating sleep disorders like narcolepsy by reducing sleepiness and cataplexy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Histamine's role in brain function was recognized 50 years ago.
- Recent research clarifies histamine's regulation of sleep/wake behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a translational overview of the brain's histamine system.
- To highlight clinical applications of histamine-enhancing drugs.
Main Methods:
- Review of basic neuroscience research on histamine neurons.
- Analysis of clinical trials for histamine-modulating medications.
Main Results:
- Histamine neurons in the tuberomammillary nucleus are essential for wakefulness.
- Histamine neurons generally excite targets but can release GABA.
- Increased histamine neurons observed in narcolepsy, though histamine levels are debated.
Conclusions:
- Histamine signaling is vital for maintaining wakefulness.
- Drugs enhancing histamine signaling effectively reduce narcolepsy symptoms like sleepiness and cataplexy.
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