title: Histaminergic tuberomammillary neuron loss in multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Histaminergic neurons of the tuberomammillary nucleus are critical for maintenance of wakefulness and participate in basal ganglia modulation and sympathoexcitation. All of these functions are affected in multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the involvement of histaminergic neurons in these synucleinopathies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunocytochemical staining for histidine decarboxylase and stereological cell counts in the posterolateral hypothalamus from six cases with multiple system atrophy, six with dementia with Lewy bodies, and five healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with healthy controls, significant reduction of histaminergic neurons was found both in multiple system atrophy (total estimated cell count, 94,677 ± 5,521 vs. 169,579 ± 12,443; P < 0.001) and in dementia with Lewy bodies (91,110 ± 13,021 vs. 169,579 ± 12,443; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loss of tuberomammillary histaminergic neurons could potentially contribute to motor, sleep, and autonomic manifestations of both multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Eduardo E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Benarroch
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schmeichel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.|Division of Anatomical Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008326:Mammillary Bodies / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D006632:Histamine
keywords: dementia with Lewy bodies; multiple system atrophy; tuberomammillary nucleus