Role of histamine H1-receptor on behavioral states and wake maintenance during deficiency of a brain activating system: A study using a knockout mouse model

• Published in: Neuropharmacology Vol. 106; pp. 20 - 34
• Main Authors: Parmentier, Régis, Zhao, Yan, Perier, Magali, Akaoka, Hideo, Lintunen, Minnamaija, Hou, Yiping, Panula, Pertti, Watanabe, Takeshi, Franco, Patricia, Lin, Jian-Sheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Arousal; Behavior; Brain; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Cholinergic Antagonists; Cholinergic Antagonists - pharmacology; Cholinergic transmission; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Cognitive science; Compensation; Cortical activation; EEG; H1-receptor; Histamine; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Histamine H1 Antagonists - pharmacology; Histamine H3 Antagonists; Histamine H3 Antagonists - pharmacology; Imidazoles; Imidazoles - pharmacology; Knockout mice; Life Sciences; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Physostigmine; Physostigmine - pharmacology; Receptors, Histamine H1; Receptors, Histamine H1 - genetics; Receptors, Histamine H1 - metabolism; Receptors, Histamine H3; Receptors, Histamine H3 - metabolism; Scopolamine; Scopolamine Hydrobromide - pharmacology; Sleep; Sleep - drug effects; Sleep - physiology; Triprolidine; Triprolidine - pharmacology; Wakefulness; Wakefulness - drug effects; Wakefulness - physiology; Histamine; Cortical activation; Knockout mice; Sleep; Wakefulness; EEG; Compensation; Arousal; H1-receptor; Behavior; Cholinergic transmission
• ISSN: 0028-3908; 1873-7064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.12.014

Using knockout (KO) mice lacking the histamine (HA)-synthesizing enzyme (histidine decarboxylase, HDC), we have previously shown the importance of histaminergic neurons in maintaining wakefulness (W) under behavioral challenges. Since the central actions of HA are mediated by several receptor subtypes, it remains to be determined which one(s) could be responsible for such a role. We have therefore compared the cortical-EEG, sleep and W under baseline conditions or behavioral/pharmacological stimuli in littermate wild-type (WT) and H1-receptor KO (H1−/−) mice. We found that H1−/− mice shared several characteristics with HDC KO mice, i.e. 1) a decrease in W after lights-off despite its normal baseline daily amount; 2) a decreased EEG slow wave sleep (SWS)/W power ratio; 3) inability to maintain W in response to behavioral challenges demonstrated by a decreased sleep latency when facing various stimuli. These effects were mediated by central H1-receptors. Indeed, in WT mice, injection of triprolidine, a brain-penetrating H1-receptor antagonist increased SWS, whereas ciproxifan (H3-receptor antagonist/inverse agonist) elicited W; all these injections had no effect in H1−/− mice. Finally, H1−/− mice showed markedly greater changes in EEG power (notably in the 0.8–5 Hz band) and sleep-wake cycle than in WT mice after application of a cholinergic antagonist or an indirect agonist, i.e., scopolamine or physostigmine. Hence, the role of HA in wake-promotion is largely ensured by H1-receptors. An upregulated cholinergic system may account for a quasi-normal daily amount of W in HDC or H1-receptor KO mice and likely constitutes a major compensatory mechanism when the brain is facing deficiency of an activating system. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘Histamine Receptors’. •Long-term brain histamine deletion impairs EEG & sleep-wake quality causing sleepiness.•Such roles are largely mediated by the H1-receptor.•The cholinergic system is upregulated to ensure a wake amount in histamine-deficient mice.•This constitutes a major compensation when the brain is faced with deficient situations.•Understand how the brain remains awake in deficient situation is of physiological/clinical relevance.