The distribution of postsynaptic histamine H1, H2 and H4 receptors was mapped by double and single immunostaining. mediated by H1 receptors, whereas HCN channels were responsible for excitation induced by activation of H2 receptors. Moreover, NCX1 and NCX3 rather than NCX2, and HCN1 rather than HCN2-4 mRNAs, were abundantly indicated in MVN. Summary and Implications NCXs coupled to H1 receptors and HCN channels linked to H2 receptors co-mediate the strong postsynaptic excitatory action of histamine on MVN neurons. These results highlight an active part of postsynaptic mechanisms in the modulation by central histaminergic systems of vestibular functions and suggest potential focuses on for medical treatment of vestibular disorders. Linked Articles This short article is portion of a themed issue on Histamine Pharmacology Upgrade. To view the other content articles in this problem check out http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.170.issue-1 and (Serafin curves) were obtained before and during drug software using a slow ramp control (= ?10 mVs?1, ranged BAPTA from ?60 to ?120 mV) to allow for attainment of steady-state conditions (Wu = 26) or type B BAPTA (= 50) neurons. Histamine excited both types of the recorded neurons (76/76, 100%). In the current clamp experiments, brief bath software (1 min) of 30 M histamine elicited a significant excitatory response BAPTA within the MVM neurons (Number 1A) with an increase of maximum firing rate by 74 11% (= 7). The ISIs and PSTHs showed that histamine mainly shortened the intervals of the spikes and improved the firing rate of the MVN neurons (Number 1B,C). Moreover, when perfusing the slices with ACSF comprising 0.3 M TTX, 30 M histamine still evoked a strong depolarization of 5.1 0.7 mV within the MVN neurons (= 5), suggesting a marked postsynaptic excitatory effect induced by histamine (Number 1D). On the other hand, in voltage-clamp experiments in TTX, histamine elicited stable inward whole-cell currents within the MVN neurons (Number 1E), confirming a postsynaptic excitatory action of histamine within the cells. In addition, the histamine-induced postsynaptic excitation was concentration-dependent (Number 1E). Fitted the concentrationCresponse curves from type A (= 5) and type B (= 5) MVN neurons offered EC50 ideals for histamine of 7.1 and 5.7 M respectively (Number 1F). Open in a separate window Number 1 A designated postsynaptic excitatory component was involved in the histamine-induced excitation of MVN neurons. (A) Histamine excited a MVN neuron. Analysis of the ISI (B) and PSTH (C) showed that histamine shortened the ISI and improved the firing rate of the MVN neuron offered in (A). (D) Histamine still induced strong depolarization of the same MVN neuron in the presence of TTX. (E) Histamine dose-dependently elicited an inward current inside a MVN neuron. (F) ConcentrationCresponse curves for histamine on recorded type A (= 5) and type B (= 5) MVN neurons shows the mean EC50 value for histamine of 7.1 and BAPTA 5.7 M, respectively. With this and the following figures, the short horizontal bars above the experimental records indicate the 1 min period of software of histamine or histamine receptor agonist, and the long horizontal bars indicate the exposure of the slice to TTX, histamine receptor antagonist or blockers of ion exchangers or channels. H1 and H2 receptors co-mediate the histamine-induced postsynaptic excitation on MVN neurons Histamine exerts its action via four unique receptor subtypes. The histamine H1, H2 and H4 receptors are postsynaptic, whereas H3 receptors are mostly presynaptic with some postsynaptic locations (Brown 0.01, *** 0.001, significantly different from control. (D) Pub graphs showing the relative manifestation of H1, Ppia H2 and H4 receptor mRNAs in the.