Optogenetic activation of cholinergic neurons in the PPT or LDT induces REM sleep.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 25548191.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1073/pnas.1423136112 and PMC identifier 4299243.
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Abstract
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is an important component of the natural sleep/wake cycle, yet the mechanisms that regulate REM sleep remain incompletely understood. Cholinergic neurons in the mesopontine tegmentum have been implicated in REM sleep regulation, but lesions of this area have had varying effects on REM sleep. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the role of cholinergic neurons in the pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPT) and laterodorsal tegmentum (LDT) in REM sleep generation. Selective optogenetic activation of cholinergic neurons in the PPT or LDT during non-REM (NREM) sleep increased the number of REM sleep episodes and did not change REM sleep episode duration. Activation of cholinergic neurons in the PPT or LDT during NREM sleep was sufficient to induce REM sleep.
Medical subject headings
- Cholinergic Neurons
- Sleep, REM
- Tegmentum Mesencephali