title: Histaminergic ligands improve vestibular compensation in the cat: behavioural, neurochemical and molecular evidence.
abstract: This study analysed the effects of betahistine and thioperamide, two histamine H(3) receptor antagonists, on the recovery process after unilateral vestibular neurectomy (UVN) in the cat. In UVN animals untreated or treated with betahistine or thioperamide, recovery was evaluated by recording the horizontal spontaneous nystagmus and the postural and locomotor performances. The neurochemical effects of these drugs were determined by examining their impact on the histaminergic system. We quantified the mRNA coding for histidine decarboxylase (enzyme synthesizing histamine) by in situ hybridisation in the tuberomammillary nuclei, while binding density to histamine H(3) receptors was assessed using a histamine H(3) receptor agonist ([(3)H]N-alpha-methylhistamine) and autoradiography methods in the tuberomammillary and the vestibular nuclei. Relative to the UVN-untreated group, cats treated with betahistine or thioperamide showed strongly accelerated behavioural recovery. UVN-induced 1) an up-regulation of histidine decarboxylase mRNA in the tuberomammillary nuclei, strongly accentuated under betahistine and thioperamide, 2) a reduction of the binding to histamine H(3) receptors in the vestibular and tuberomammillary nuclei, also strongly enhanced in both groups of treated cats. This study demonstrates that betahistine and thioperamide strongly improve the recovery of vestibular functions in UVN cats by interacting with the histaminergic system.
authors.affiliation: UMR 6149 Neurobiologie Intégrative et Adaptative, Université de Provence/CNRS, Pôle 3C Comportement, Cerveau, Cognition - Case B - Centre de St Charles, 3 Place Victor Hugo-13331 Marseille Cedex 03-France. tighilet@up.univ-mrs.fr
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tighilet
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mourre
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trottier
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001621:Betahistine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002415:Cats; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008761:Methylhistamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3 / Q000378:metabolism; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D017442:Histamine Agonists; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D008024:Ligands; D008761:Methylhistamines; D010880:Piperidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3; C069357:alpha-methylhistamine; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase; C052075:thioperamide; D001621:Betahistine