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Anxiety and cognition in histamine H 3 receptor −/− mice
Author(s) -
Rizk Angela,
Curley Justine,
Robertson Jennifer,
Raber Jacob
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03251.x
Subject(s) - histamine h3 receptor , neuroscience , psychology , anxiety , histamine , basolateral amygdala , blockade , cognition , stimulation , receptor , amygdala , pharmacology , medicine , antagonist , psychiatry
Histamine H 3 receptors (H3Rs) were first characterized as autoreceptors modulating histamine release and synthesis via negative feedback. Acute H3R stimulation or blockade with selective agonists and antagonists suggests a role for H3R in anxiety and cognition. However, little is known about the long‐term effects of H3R blockade on brain function. In the current study, mice lacking H3 receptors (H3R −/− ) were used to investigate the role of H3R‐mediated signalling in anxiety and cognition. H3R −/− mice showed enhanced spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze. In addition, H3R −/− mice showed reduced measures of anxiety in the elevated plus and zero mazes involving exploratory behaviour and avoidable anxiety‐provoking stimuli, but enhanced acoustic startle responses involving unavoidable anxiety‐provoking stimuli. These behavioural alterations were associated with higher arginine vasopressin levels in the central and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala. These findings support a role for H3Rs in mediating histamine effects on spatial learning and memory and measures of anxiety.