Knockdown of GABA<sub>A</sub> alpha3 subunits on thalamic reticular neurons enhances deep sleep in mice.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35473906.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-29852-x and PMC identifier 9042958.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Identification of mechanisms which increase deep sleep could lead to novel treatments which promote the restorative effects of sleep. Here, we show that knockdown of the α3 GABA<sub>A</sub>-receptor subunit from parvalbumin neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing increased the thalamocortical delta (1.5-4 Hz) oscillations which are implicated in many health-promoting effects of sleep. Inhibitory synaptic currents in thalamic reticular parvalbumin neurons were strongly reduced in vitro. Further analysis revealed that delta power in long NREM bouts prior to NREM-REM transitions was preferentially affected by deletion of α3 subunits. Our results identify a role for GABA<sub>A</sub> receptors on thalamic reticular nucleus neurons and suggest antagonism of α3 subunits as a strategy to enhance delta activity during sleep.
Medical subject headings
- Parvalbumins
- Sleep, Slow-Wave