Histamine phase shifts the circadian clock in a manner similar to light.
The mammalian circadian pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) receives a dense input from histamine-containing neurons in the posterior basal hypothalamus. We applied histamine to SCN tissue in vitro and measured the subsequent rhythm in firing rate. Histamine caused a phase delay in the early subjective night and a phase advance in the late subjective night. The similarity of histamine- and photic-induced phase shifts indicates that histamine may play a role in the modulation of circadian clock photic input.
Cote
N K
NK
Department of Psychology, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063.
Harrington
M E
ME
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D006632:Histamine / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D006632:Histamine