Effects of histamine H(3) receptor activation on the behavioral-stimulant effects of methamphetamine and cocaine in mice and squirrel monkeys.
BACKGROUND
Cocaine and methamphetamine (METH) are two commonly abused drugs that have behavioral-stimulant properties. These stimulant effects are partially mediated by the dopaminergic system. Recent evidence has suggested that the histamine H(3) receptor (H(3)R) may modulate the release of dopamine induced by METH. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of H(3)R in the behavioral-stimulant effects of cocaine and METH in mice and monkeys.


METHODS
Nonhabituated, experimentally naïve mice (n = 5-6) were pretreated with the H(3)R agonist imetit 30 min before METH or cocaine, and activity was measured for 90 min. The behavioral-stimulant effects of METH and cocaine were also studied in squirrel monkeys (n = 3) under a fixed-interval schedule of stimulus termination. Monkeys were pretreated with imetit 30 min before the peak behavioral-stimulant doses of METH or cocaine derived from individual subjects.


RESULTS
Pretreatment with imetit did not affect basal activity in mice. Imetit significantly attenuated the behavioral-stimulant effects of METH, but not cocaine. In monkeys, no dose of imetit tested significantly altered the behavioral-stimulant effects of METH or cocaine.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a role of H(3)R in the behavioral-stimulant effects of METH, but not cocaine, in mice and no role in monkeys.
Banks
Matthew L
ML
Yerkes National Primate Research Center , Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Manvich
Daniel F
DF
Bauzo
Rayna M
RM
Howell
Leonard L
LL
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3 / Q000502:physiology*; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012453:Saimiri; D013890:Thiourea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D017442:Histamine Agonists; D007093:Imidazoles; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3; D008694:Methamphetamine; C077430:imetit; D013890:Thiourea; D003042:Cocaine