Summary
The histamine synthesis inhibitor a-fluoromethylhistidine (a-FMH, 50mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced wakefulness (W) and light sleep and increased slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep during the light period in rats housed under 12 h light/12 h dark conditions (12L/12D).
When animals were housed under 16 h light/8 h dark (16L/8D) they remained awake for a longer period of time during the dark as compared to the 12L/ 12D lighting cycle. Under this condition a-FMH 50mg/kg significantly decreased W and increased SWS.
Our results tend to indicate that histamine intervenes in sleep-wakefulness regulation. In addition, histamine could be partly involved in the abnormally increased incidence of W observed during the dark in rats housed under 16L/ 8D conditions.
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Monti, J.M., D'Angelo, L., Jantos, H. et al. Effects of a-fluoromethylhistidine on sleep and wakefulness in the rat. J. Neural Transmission 72, 141–145 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01250237
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01250237