Mild electrical stimulation of pontine tegmentum around locus coeruleus reduces rapid eye movement sleep in Rats

Singh, Sangeeta ; Mallick, Birendra Nath (1996) Mild electrical stimulation of pontine tegmentum around locus coeruleus reduces rapid eye movement sleep in Rats Neuroscience Research, 24 (3). pp. 227-235. ISSN 0168-0102

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-0102(95)00998-1

Abstract

The norepinephrinergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) cease firing during REM sleep (REMS) and increase firing during REMS deprivation. Most of the earlier studies used lesion and transection techniques which could not confirm the role of LC in REMS generation and/or its maintenance, if at all. Hence, in this study it was hypothesized that if the LC REM-off neurons must cease firing before the onset of REMS, its continuous activation should eliminate or at least reduce REMS. Electrophysiological parameters characterizing sleep-wakefulness-REMS were recorded in freely moving male albino rats. In an attempt not to allow the REM-off LC neurons to cease firing, low intensity (200,μA), low frequency (2 Hz) rectangular (300, µs) pulses were continuously delivered to the LC bilaterally through chronically implanted electrodes, and the effects on sleep-wakefulness-REMS were investigated. Although the stimulation did not affect sleep state of the animals, it reduced REMS significantly. The effect on REMS was similar to that of REMS deprivation. Total duration of REMS was significantly reduced during stimulation and showed a rebound increase during the post stimulation period. This reduction in REMS duration was primarily due to a significant reduction in the REMS frequency/h while the mean REMS duration/episode was not affected. Thus, the results of this study suggest that the stimulated area (LC) affects REMS, most likely by suppression of REMS generation process.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science.
Keywords:Locus Coeruleus; Norepinephrine; REM Sleep; REM Sleep Frequency; REM Sleep Duration; Stimulation
ID Code:63696
Deposited On:29 Sep 2011 06:18
Last Modified:29 Sep 2011 06:18

Repository Staff Only: item control page