title: Identification of histaminergic neurons through histamine 3 receptor-mediated autoinhibition.
abstract: Using a reporter mouse model with expression of the tomato fluorescent protein under the dopamine transporter promoter (Tmt-DAT) we discovered a new group of neurons in the histaminergic tuberomamillary nucleus (TMN), which, in contrast to tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons of the dorsomedial arcuate nucleus, do not express tyrosine hydroxylase but can synthesize and store dopamine. Tmt-DAT neurons located within TMN share electrophysiological properties with histaminergic neurons: spontaneous firing at a membrane potential around -50 mV and presence of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels. Histamine (30 μM) depolarizes and excites Tmt-DAT neurons through H1R activation but inhibits histaminergic neurons through H3R activation thus allowing a pharmacological identification of the different neurons. Single-cell RT-PCR revealed that all histaminergic neurons expressing histidine decarboxylase (HDC) also express H3R. This includes neurons retrogradely traced from the striatum whose inhibition by a selective H3R agonist was indistinguishable from the whole population. Prolonged depolarization reduces the autoinhibition. The potency of histamine at H3R depends on membrane potential and on extracellular and intracellular calcium. Autoinhibition can be impaired by preincubation with capsaicin, a ligand of the calcium-permeable TRPV1 channel or by blockade of Ca(2+)-ATPase with thapsigargin. The pharmacology of autoinhibition is revisited and physiological conditions for its functionality are determined. Usage of reporter mouse models for the safe identification of aminergic neurons under pathophysiological conditions is recommended. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Histamine Receptors'.
authors: Department of Neurophysiology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Medical Faculty, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: De Luca
authors: Institute for Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Medical Faculty, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Tatsiana
authors: T
authors: Suvorava
authors: Department of Neurophysiology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Medical Faculty, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Danqing
authors: D
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Neurophysiology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Medical Faculty, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Wilhelm
authors: W
authors: Baumgärtel
authors: Institute for Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Medical Faculty, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Kojda
authors: Department of Neurophysiology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Medical Faculty, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Helmut L
authors: HL
authors: Haas
authors: Department of Neurophysiology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Medical Faculty, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: olga.sergeeva@uni-duesseldorf.de.
authors: Olga A
authors: OA
authors: Sergeeva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C493921:TRPV1 protein, mouse; D006632:Histamine; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Aminergic neurons; Autoinhibition; H(1) receptor; H(3) receptor; Patch-clamp; Retrograde tracing; Single cell RT-PCR