Whether central histaminergic (HAergic) neurons mediate the regulation of methamphetamine (MAMP)-induced hyperactivity was clarified. L-histidine (HIS; 500 and 1000 mg/kg i.p.) reduced the locomotor ...hyperactivity induced by MAMP (1 mg/kg i.p.) in mice, and the effect was significant only at 1000 mg/kg. HIS significantly elevated brain histamine (HA) levels, in both doses, whereas telemethylhistamine (t-MH) levels were elevated only at 1000 mg/kg. Pretreatment with alpha-fluoromethylhistidine, a histidine decarboxylase inhibitor, suppressed both behavioral and biochemical effects of HIS. Metoprine, a HA-N-methyltransferase inhibitor, increased brain HA levels, decreased t-MH levels and suppressed the MAMP-induced locomotor hyperactivity. It is concluded that central HAergic systems may play an inhibitory role on the MAMP-induced locomotor hyperactivity.
Intraventricular injection of histamine (Hi) significantly prolonged thiopental sleeping time at doses of 0.5μg or larger. Both 1-methylHi and imidazole-4-acetic acid, howere, did not affect ...thiopental narcosis. Pretreatment with α-fluoromethylhistidine diminished the effect of Hi, while histidine, metoprine and quinacrine prolonged thiopental narcosis. Injection with 2-methylHi did not affect thiopental sleeping time, while as in the case of Hi, 4-methylHi augmented the thiopental effect. In addition, H2-receptor blocking agents such as cimetidine, ranitidine and famotidine clearly antagonized Hi-induced prolongation of thiopental narcosis, while pyrilamine and chlorpheniramine had no effect. These results indicate that Hi-induced prolongation of thiopental narcosis appears to be exerted via H2 receptors and is, in some way, related to the Hi content in the brain.