title: Role of histamine and its receptors in cerebral ischemia.
abstract: Histamine is recognized as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the brain, and it plays a major role in the pathogenic progression after cerebral ischemia. Extracellular histamine increases gradually after ischemia, and this may come from histaminergic neurons or mast cells. Histamine alleviates neuronal damage and infarct volume, and it promotes recovery of neurological function after ischemia; the H1, H2, and H3 receptors are all involved. Further studies suggest that histamine alleviates excitotoxicity, suppresses the release of glutamate and dopamine, and inhibits inflammation and glial scar formation. Histamine may also affect cerebral blood flow by targeting to vascular smooth muscle cells, and promote neurogenesis. Moreover, endogenous histamine is an essential mediator in the cerebral ischemic tolerance. Due to its multiple actions, affecting neurons, glia, vascular cells, and inflammatory cells, histamine is likely to be an important target in cerebral ischemia. But due to its low penetration of the blood-brain barrier and its wide actions in the periphery, histamine-related agents, like H3 antagonists and carnosine, show potential for cerebral ischemia therapy. However, important questions about the molecular aspects and pathophysiology of histamine and related agents in cerebral ischemia remain to be answered to form a solid scientific basis for therapeutic application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2 / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3 / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3; D006632:Histamine