Differential Effects of the Histamine H₃Receptor Agonist Methimepip on Dentate Granule Cell Excitability, Paired-Pulse Plasticity and Long-Term Potentiation in Prenatal Alcohol-Exposed Rats

Abstract

While the effects of methimepip in control offspring were consistent with speculation of a PAE-induced enhancement of H3 receptor-mediated inhibition of E-S coupling and LTP, the absence of an added effect of methimepip in PAE offspring could indicate either an inability to further inhibit these responses with methimepip in PAE rats or the presence of more complex regulatory neural interactions with in vivo recordings in PAE rats. Follow-up studies of H3 receptor-mediated responses in DG slice preparations are under way to provide clearer insights into the role of the H3 receptor regulation of excitatory transmission in PAE rats.