Phobias, panic attacks and PTSD are extremely common. Sitting at the heart of much fear is emotional memory—all the associations that one has between various stimuli and experiences and his emotional response to them. Memory is a multi-state process that includes acquisition, consoli- dation and retrieval. We report that the integrity of the brain histaminergic system is necessary for consolidation of long- term memory (LTM) of step-down inhibitory avoidance (IA), a task that explores emotional memory in animals. Histamine depletion impairs IA-LTM, and his- tamine infusion into in hippocampus or basolateral amygdala (BLA) restores LTM in histamine-depleted rats. The restoring effect in BLA occurs even when hippocam- pal activity was impaired. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive-element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation correlates anatomically and tem- porally with histamine-induced memory recall. Thus, histamine neurotransmission appears critical to provide the brain with the plasticity necessary for IA memory through recruitment of alternative circuits that provide compen- satory plasticity when one brain structure is compromised. We report that cerebral histamine depletion impairs also retrieval of IA in rats, and blunts retrieval-induced c-Fos activation and CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampus. Histamine infusion into the hippocampus restores IA retrieval in histamine-depleted rats by targeting brain H1 receptors. Our study uncovers previously unidentified mechanisms involved in memory retrieval, and offers tar- gets for developing novel pharmacotherapies to treat dysfunctional aversive memories, as well as to improve the efficacy of exposure psychotherapies. Memory determines the uniqueness of our personal history, and is decisive for each individual to survive and prosper. However, irrational fear is no longer useful and life-saving, and drugs decreasing painful emotional memories can help to get rid of pathological anxiety.

The role of histamine in the memory of emotionally-salient experiences / patrizio blandina. - In: INFLAMMATION RESEARCH. - ISSN 1023-3830. - STAMPA. - 65 (suppl. 1):(2016), pp. 18-18. [10.1007/s00011-016-0958-6]

The role of histamine in the memory of emotionally-salient experiences

BLANDINA, PATRIZIO
2016

Abstract

Phobias, panic attacks and PTSD are extremely common. Sitting at the heart of much fear is emotional memory—all the associations that one has between various stimuli and experiences and his emotional response to them. Memory is a multi-state process that includes acquisition, consoli- dation and retrieval. We report that the integrity of the brain histaminergic system is necessary for consolidation of long- term memory (LTM) of step-down inhibitory avoidance (IA), a task that explores emotional memory in animals. Histamine depletion impairs IA-LTM, and his- tamine infusion into in hippocampus or basolateral amygdala (BLA) restores LTM in histamine-depleted rats. The restoring effect in BLA occurs even when hippocam- pal activity was impaired. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive-element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation correlates anatomically and tem- porally with histamine-induced memory recall. Thus, histamine neurotransmission appears critical to provide the brain with the plasticity necessary for IA memory through recruitment of alternative circuits that provide compen- satory plasticity when one brain structure is compromised. We report that cerebral histamine depletion impairs also retrieval of IA in rats, and blunts retrieval-induced c-Fos activation and CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampus. Histamine infusion into the hippocampus restores IA retrieval in histamine-depleted rats by targeting brain H1 receptors. Our study uncovers previously unidentified mechanisms involved in memory retrieval, and offers tar- gets for developing novel pharmacotherapies to treat dysfunctional aversive memories, as well as to improve the efficacy of exposure psychotherapies. Memory determines the uniqueness of our personal history, and is decisive for each individual to survive and prosper. However, irrational fear is no longer useful and life-saving, and drugs decreasing painful emotional memories can help to get rid of pathological anxiety.
2016
patrizio blandina
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1094433
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