title: Betahistine dihydrochloride interaction with the histaminergic system in the cat: neurochemical and molecular mechanisms.
abstract: Drugs interfering with the histaminergic system facilitate behavioral recovery after vestibular lesion, likely by increasing histamine turnover and release. The effects of betahistine (structural analogue of histamine) on the histaminergic system were tested by quantifying messenger RNA for histidine decarboxylase (enzyme synthesizing histamine) by in situ hybridization and binding to histamine H(3) receptors (mediating, namely, histamine autoinhibition) using a histamine H(3) receptor agonist ([(3)H]N-alpha-methylhistamine) and radioautography methods. Experiments were done in brain sections of control cats (N=6) and cats treated with betahistine for 1 (N=6) or 3 (N=6) weeks. Betahistine treatment induced symmetrical changes with up-regulation of histidine decarboxylase mRNA in the tuberomammillary nucleus and reduction of [(3)H]N-alpha-methylhistamine labeling in both the tuberomammillary nucleus, the vestibular nuclei complex and nuclei of the inferior olive. These findings suggest that betahistine upregulates histamine turnover and release, very likely by blocking presynaptic histamine H(3) receptors, and induces histamine H(3) receptor downregulation. This action on the histaminergic system could explain the effectiveness of betahistine in the treatment of vertigo and vestibular disease.
authors.affiliation: UMR 6149 "Neurobiologie Intégrative et Adaptative", Université de Provence/CNRS, 52 Faculté de Saint Jérôme-Case 361, F-13397 Cedex 20, Marseille, France. tighilet@up.univ-mrs.fr
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tighilet
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trottier
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mourre
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chotard
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacour
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001621:Betahistine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002415:Cats; D006632:Histamine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008761:Methylhistamines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3 / Q000378:metabolism; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017442:Histamine Agonists; D008761:Methylhistamines; D010880:Piperidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3; C069357:alpha-methylhistamine; D006632:Histamine; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase; C052075:thioperamide; D001621:Betahistine