Research ReportThe role of the central histaminergic receptors in the exercise-induced improvements of the spatial learning and memory in rats

•Cimetidine (H2 receptor blocker) had not any effects on spatial learning and memory in rat.•Chlorpheniramine (H1 receptor blocker) disturbed spatial learning and memory in rat.•Cimetidine reversed the exercise-induced improvement in learning and memory in rat.

While it is well known that exercise can improve cognitive performance, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. There is now evidence that histamine can modulate learning and memory in different types of behavioral tasks. The present study was designed to examine the possible role of central histamine H1 and H2 receptors in forced treadmill running-induced enhancement of learning and memory in rats. For this purpose the animals received intracerebroventricularly chlorpheniramine (H1 receptor blocker) and cimetidine (H2 receptor blocker) before each day of fifteen consecutive days of exercise. Then their learning and memory were tested on the water maze task using a four-trial-per-day for 4 consecutive days. A probe trial was performed after the last training day. Our data showed that cimetidine reversed the exercise-induced improvement in learning and memory in rats; however, this was not the case regarding chlorpheniramine. Our findings indicate that central histamine H2 receptors play an important role in mediating the beneficial effects of forced exercise on learning and memory.