Histamine H receptor deletion in cholinergic neurons induces sensorimotor gating ability deficit and social impairments in mice.

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia strongly contribute to poor functional outcomes, however its pathogenesis is still unclear. Here, we found that histamine H receptor (HR) expression in basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons was decreased in patients with schizophrenia having negative symptoms. Deletion of HR gene in cholinergic neurons in mice resulted in functional deficiency of cholinergic projections from the BF to the prefrontal cortex and in the formation of sensorimotor gating deficit, social impairment and anhedonia-like behavior. These behavioral deficits can be rescued by re-expressing HR or by chemogenetic activation of cholinergic neurons in the BF. Direct chemogenetic inhibition of BF cholinergic neurons produced such behavioral deficits and also increased the susceptibility to hyperlocomotion. Our results suggest that the HR deficiency in BF cholinergic neurons is critical for sensorimotor gating deficit, social impairments and anhedonia-like behavior. This finding may help to understand the genetic and biochemical bases of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.