2-Thiazolylethylamine, a selective histamine H1 agonist, decreases seizure susceptibility in mice.

The effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of histamine and its selective agonists on electrically and pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions in mice were studied. The ICV administration of histamine decreased seizure susceptibility on electrically and pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions significantly and dose-dependently. The inhibitory effects of histamine were well antagonized by centrally acting histamine H1 antagonists such as pyrilamine (or mepyramine) and ketotifen, but not by a peripherally acting histamine H1 antagonist, astemizole, or a centrally acting H2 antagonist, zolantidine. The ICV administration of 2-thiazolylethylamine, a selective histamine H1 agonist, also decreased seizure susceptibility, which could be antagonized by centrally acting histamine H1 antagonists, whereas dimaprit, a selective histamine H2 agonist, did not affect seizure susceptibility. These findings strengthened the idea that the central histaminergic neuron system plays an inhibitory role in convulsions.