Importance of histamine in modulatory processes, locomotion and memory

Acetylcholine modulates histaminergic transmission via M, receptors. On the other hand, cholinergic transmission is modulated by neighbouring histaminergic neurons via H(1), H(2) and H(3) receptors. Dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons are also involved in these modulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, the release of histamine is modulated by glutamatergic neurons and nitric oxide of neuronal origin. The release of histamine in the brain oscillates according to circadian, slow ultradian and fast ultradian rhythms. Ultradian fluctuations have also been observed in the theta- and delta-frequency bands of the EEG spectral power. Simultaneous recordings of histamine outflow and EEG in the hypothalamus revealed that the ultradian histamine release rhythm coincides temporally with ultradian fluctuations in the EEG spectral power. Histamine receptor ligands used in pharmaco therapy, like H, and H, antagonists, modify the frequency of the EEG fluctuations. Brain histamine seems to be involved in memory processes, since inhibition of histamine synthesis deteriorates, while H, antagonists, histamine and histidine improve short-term memory. The latter finding may open new horizons in pharmacological treatment of memory disorders. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.