Through the elucidation of the structure and function of neurotrophic molecules, new possibilities in the treatment of brain injury and degenerative disease of the central and peripheral nervous system are opened. NT's and their receptors are important targets for the therapy of human disease, with potential applications ranging from the treatment of chronic or acute neurodegeneration to pain and cancer. NT's have been used clinically but are poor pharmacological agents because of being unable to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. There are currently increased efforts in the clinical trials directed towards optimizing the use of NT's by improving delivery of neurotrophins to the CNS (gene therapy, stem-cell therapy, transplantation of engineered cells that secrete NT's), induction of endogenous production of NT's, modulation of NT's activity etc. The results of these studies are particularly important for future therapy as well as development of new therapeutic drugs, if our pharmaceutical industry adopt this in their R&D. Neurotransmitter histamine, which is also involved in the processes of degeneration and regeneration in the CNS, has been shown to have an important trophic action in the brain. Our recent studies confirmed the stimulatory effect of histamine on NGF secretion. These results are important for the elucidation of histamine role in regenerative processes as well as for a potential development of new therapeutic agents that would via activation of histamine receptors, beneficially affect nevrodegenerative disorders. Mast cells are a useful "in vitro" model for studying side effects due to secreted histamine such as unwanted allergic reactions and as such has an important clinical use. Studies of histamine receptors and their new agonists/antagonists open new possibilities in therapy of allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases etc.