Damage to histaminergic tuberomammillary neurons and other hypothalamic neurons with traumatic brain injury. Issue 1 (20th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valko, Philipp O.; Gavrilov, Yury V.; Yamamoto, Mihoko; Finn, Kristen; Reddy, Hasini; Haybaeck, Johannes; Weis, Serge; Scammell, Thomas E.; Baumann, Christian R.
• Is Part Of: Annals of neurology. Volume 77:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 182
• Publication Date: 2014-11-20
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Pediatric neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.24298
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0364-5134

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The need for increased sleep after traumatic brain injury is a common and disabling complaint, yet its etiology is unknown. Previous studies have demonstrated diffuse damage to various hypothalamic systems, but the integrity of the histaminergic tuberomammillary nucleus, a major arousal‐promoting system located in the posterior hypothalamus, has never been examined in head trauma patients. Here, we demonstrate that severe head trauma is associated with a marked loss (41%) of histaminergic neurons. Reduced histamine signaling may contribute to increased sleep need, and therapies that enhance histaminergic tone may improve arousal after head trauma or other conditions. ANN NEUROL 2015;77:177–182</p> </abstract>