HISTAMINE SYNTHESIZING AFFERENTS TO THE HIPPOCAMPAL REGION

Abstract
—Histidine decarboxylase activity is found in all parts of the hippocampal formation (subiculum, CA1, CA3 and area dentata), and a major portion of the enzyme is localized in a subcellular fraction containing the nerve terminal particles. The almost complete disppearance of HD (and histamine) after deafferentation of the hippocampal formation suggests that histamine synthesis in this region resides in terminals of extrinsic fibres. The results after selective lesions indicate that these alleged histaminergic fibres enter the hippocampus, like the monaminergic fibres, through a dorsal route (comprising fimbria, fornix superior and cingulum) as well as through a ventral route (via the amygdaloid area). The former was tentatively estimated to represent about 60% of the total hippocampal supply of alleged histaminergic fibres.