Perspectives on cognitive domains, H₃ receptor ligands and neurological disease

Abstract

Histamine H₃ receptor agonists and antagonists have been evaluated in numerous in vitro and in vivo animal models to better understand how H₃ receptors modulate neurotransmitter function in the central nervous system. Likewise, behavioural models have explored the hypothesis that changes in neurotransmitter release could enhance cognitive function in human diseases. This review examines the reported effects of H₃ receptor ligands and how they influence cognitive behaviour. These data are interpreted on the basis of different cognitive domains that are relevant to neuropsychiatric diseases. Because of the diversity of H₃ receptors, their function and their influence on neurotransmitter systems, considerable promise exists for H₃ ligands to treat diseases in which aspects of learning and memory are impaired. However, because of the complexities of the histaminergic system and H₃ receptors and the lack of clinical data so far, proof of principle for use in human disease remains to be established.

• A-304121
• ABT-239
• Alzheimer’s disease
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• cipralisant
• cognition
• cognitive domains
• FUB-181
• GT-2331
• H3 receptors
• histamine
• learning
• memory
• schizophrenia