Effects of thioperamide, a histamine H3-receptor antagonist, on a scopolamine-induced learning deficit using an elevated plus-maze test in mice

Life Sci. 1995;57(23):2137-44. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(95)02206-x.

Abstract

We examined the effects of thioperamide and (R)-alpha-methylhistamine, a histamine H3-receptor antagonist and an agonist, respectively, on a scopolamine-induced learning deficit using an elevated plus-maze test in mice. Thioperamide alone slightly improved the learning deficit induced by scopolamine, and pretreatment with zolantidine, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist, significantly enhanced the effect of thioperamide in this test. (R)-alpha-Methylhistamine, pyrilamine, ketotifen, terfenadine, and zolantidine alone at the doses tested had no effect. Moreover, the improvement by thioperamide plus zolantidine was antagonized by pretreatment with histamine H1-receptor antagonists such as pyrilamine or ketotifen, but not by terfenadine. Thus, thioperamide improved the scopolamine-induced learning deficit through central histamine H1 receptors in mice. The present results supported the hypothesis that histamine may play an important role in learning and memory.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Histamine / physiology
  • Histamine Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Phenoxypropanolamines
  • Piperidines / pharmacology*
  • Scopolamine / pharmacology*
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology

Substances

  • Benzothiazoles
  • Histamine Antagonists
  • Phenoxypropanolamines
  • Piperidines
  • Thiazoles
  • Histamine
  • Scopolamine
  • thioperamide
  • zolantidine