Cataplexy-active neurons in the hypothalamus: implications for the role of histamine in sleep and waking behavior.

TitleCataplexy-active neurons in the hypothalamus: implications for the role of histamine in sleep and waking behavior.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsJohn J, Wu M-F, Boehmer LN, Siegel JM
JournalNeuron
Volume42
Issue4
Pagination619-34
Date Published2004 May 27
ISSN0896-6273
KeywordsAction Potentials, Adrenergic alpha-Agonists, Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists, Animals, Cataplexy, Disease Models, Animal, Dogs, Female, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hippocampus, Histamine, Hypothalamus, Male, Muscle Tonus, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Norepinephrine, Sleep, Sleep, REM, Theta Rhythm, Wakefulness
Abstract

Noradrenergic, serotonergic, and histaminergic neurons are continuously active during waking, reduce discharge during NREM sleep, and cease discharge during REM sleep. Cataplexy, a symptom associated with narcolepsy, is a waking state in which muscle tone is lost, as it is in REM sleep, while environmental awareness continues, as in alert waking. In prior work, we reported that, during cataplexy, noradrenergic neurons cease discharge, and serotonergic neurons greatly reduce activity. We now report that, in contrast to these other monoaminergic "REM-off" cell groups, histamine neurons are active in cataplexy at a level similar to or greater than that in quiet waking. We hypothesize that the activity of histamine cells is linked to the maintenance of waking, in contrast to activity in noradrenergic and serotonergic neurons, which is more tightly coupled to the maintenance of muscle tone in waking and its loss in REM sleep and cataplexy.

Alternate JournalNeuron
PubMed ID15157423
Grant ListHL41370 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
MH64109 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
NS14610 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States