Abstract

The brain mechanisms that generate sleep and the functions served by sleep remain among the great Proposed studies will assess predictions concerning the behavior of sleep-active WSNs recorded in freely-moving rats. First, because of the circadian influences on sleep these neurons are predicted to exhibit changes in excitability and activity correlated with circadian rhythms in sleep propensity. Second, because of the potent homeostatic regulation of sleep, these neurons are predicted to show increased activity and excitability after sleep deprivation. We will also map the anatomical distribution of these neurons. Neurons containing the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are distributed within the POAH and adjacent sites containing WSNs. There is evidence for increased GABA release during NREM sleep. POAH WSNs have inhibitory outputs. We will assess the hypothesis that putative hypnogenic sleep-active WSNs are GABAergic, using intracellular labeling in anesthetized animals and immunostaining for GABA. If these hypotheses are confirmed, we can construct a detailed model of NREM control and indications of sleep function. Disorders involving sleep abnormalities such as depression and narcolepsy may then be understood in mechanistic terms.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH047480-08
Application #
2890455
Study Section
Psychobiology, Behavior, and Neuroscience Review Committee (PBN)
Project Start
1992-09-01
Project End
2000-06-30
Budget Start
1999-05-10
Budget End
2000-06-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
119132785
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095

  Publications

Alam, Md Noor; Kumar, Sunil; Rai, Seema et al. (2009) Role of adenosine A(1) receptor in the perifornical-lateral hypothalamic area in sleep-wake regulation in rats. Brain Res 1304:96-104
Kumar, Sunil; Szymusiak, Ronald; Bashir, Tariq et al. (2008) Inactivation of median preoptic nucleus causes c-Fos expression in hypocretin- and serotonin-containing neurons in anesthetized rat. Brain Res 1234:66-77
Suntsova, Natalia; Guzman-Marin, Ruben; Kumar, Sunil et al. (2007) The median preoptic nucleus reciprocally modulates activity of arousal-related and sleep-related neurons in the perifornical lateral hypothalamus. J Neurosci 27:1616-30
Kumar, Sunil; Szymusiak, Ronald; Bashir, Tariq et al. (2007) Effects of serotonin on perifornical-lateral hypothalamic area neurons in rat. Eur J Neurosci 25:201-12
Guzman-Marin, Ruben; Ying, Zhe; Suntsova, Natalia et al. (2006) Suppression of hippocampal plasticity-related gene expression by sleep deprivation in rats. J Physiol 575:807-19
Methippara, Melvi M; Kumar, Sunil; Alam, Md Noor et al. (2005) Effects on sleep of microdialysis of adenosine A1 and A2a receptor analogs into the lateral preoptic area of rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 289:R1715-23
Baker, F C; Angara, C; Szymusiak, R et al. (2005) Persistence of sleep-temperature coupling after suprachiasmatic nuclei lesions in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 289:R827-38
Baker, F C; Shah, S; Stewart, D et al. (2005) Interleukin 1beta enhances non-rapid eye movement sleep and increases c-Fos protein expression in the median preoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 288:R998-R1005
McGinty, D; Gong, H; Suntsova, N et al. (2004) Sleep-promoting functions of the hypothalamic median preoptic nucleus: inhibition of arousal systems. Arch Ital Biol 142:501-9
McGinty, Dennis; Metes, Agnes; Alam, Md Noor et al. (2004) Preoptic hypothalamic warming suppresses laryngeal dilator activity during sleep. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 286:R1129-37

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