Ethanol-induced alterations in histamine content and release in the rat hypothalamus.
In the rat hypothalamus, histamine content and histidine decarboxylas: activity are enhanced significantly after acute administration (80--160 mg/100g body weight) of ethanol. The effects are less pronounced after chronic treatment (15% v/v in drinking water for 4 weeks). Histamine methyltransferase is unaffected in either case. In hypothalamic slices preloaded with 3H-histamine and superfused with amine free solution the basal and K+-induced efflux of 3H-histamine are inhibited by alcohol. The inhibition of histamine release along with the increased levels of histamine may play an important role in the central effects of alcohol.
D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004569:Electroencephalography; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
D000431:Ethanol; D006632:Histamine; D011188:Potassium