Molecular and kinetic characterization of histamine transport into adult rat cultured astrocytes

► Cultured adult rat cortical astrocytes take up histamine. ► The clearance of histamine is temperature-, time- and concentration-dependent. ► Histamine transport is reduced in the presence of ouabain and absence of sodium. ► Astrocytes posess a high-capacity, low-affinity histamine uptake system. ► OCTs are not involved in histamine clearance in cultured adult rat astrocytes.