Ethanol-induced alterations in histamine content and release in the rat hypothalamus

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Abstract
Summary In the rat hypothalamus, histamine content and histidine decarboxylase activity are enhanced significantly after acute administration (80–160 mg/100g body weight) of ethanol. The effects are less pronounced after chronic treatment (15% v/v in drinking water for 4 weeks). Histamine methyltransferase is unaffected in either case. In hypothalamic slices preloaded with3H-histamine and superfused with amine free solution the basal and K+-induced efflux of3H-histamine are inhibited by alcohol. The inhibition of histamine release along with the increased levels of histamine may play an important role in the central effects of alcohol.