For reasons that remain unknown, sleep is essential for the reversal of deficits in cognition and performance that accumulate with increased severity during protracted wake. One of the most robust and reliable features of sleep is a reduction of cerebral metabolism, manifested by a decline in brain temperature and a decline in brain glucose and oxygen utilization, relative to wake. It stands to reason that the metabolic down state is essential for the restorative function of sleep, yet the biochemical basis for this relationship is uncertain. Oxidative metabolism of glucose fuels neuronal activity. Postmortem assays indicate that protracted wake produces an accumulation of oxidative stress in the brain. We hypothesize that reduced glucose utilization in sleep reverses a metabolically-driven shift in the redox status (the balance of oxidation and reduction reactions) of parvalbumin-positive neurons caused by the high metabolic demand of these cells in the waking brain. We further hypothesize that this function of sleep is facilitated in part by an extracellular matrix structure known as perineuronal nets, which serve to buffer against oxidative stress in metabolically vulnerable neurons. To address these hypotheses, we will perform a systemic pharmacological manipulations (the oxidation/reduction reaction substrate nicotinic adenine dinucleotide) known to affect the brain?s capacity to withstand oxidative stress. We will also assess perform brain region-specific depletion of perineuronal nets. We will assess the effects of these manipulations, and those of sleep/wake cycle manipulations, on cellular redox status markers, both in real- time in vivo using intravital microscopy, and post mortem by coupling oxidation assays with cell type-specific immunochemical markers and histochemical assessment of perineuronal net intensity. We will additionally measure the effects of the experimental manipulations on electroencephalographic markers for brain fatigue and sleep need. The anticipated results will establish a causal interrelationship between sleep/wake cycles and brain redox status, and will identify brain oxidation/reduction reactions as a target for both diagnostic inquiry and therapeutic intervention in the face of sleep insufficiency. 1

Public Health Relevance

Protracted wake results in cumulative deficits in cognition and performance that are alleviated only by sleep. The neurobiological underpinnings for this restorative effect of sleep are uncertain. We hypothesize that sleep reverses shifts in the redox status (the balance of oxidation and reduction reactions) of neurons caused by the high metabolic demand of the waking brain, and that this process is facilitated in part by an extracellular matrix structure known as perineuronal nets, which serve to buffer against oxidative stress in metabolically vulnerable neurons. We will address this hypothesis by measuring the effects of sleep/wake cycle manipulations- in parallel with systemic perturbations of redox status and brain region-specific disruption of perineuronal nets- on electroencephalographic markers for brain fatigue and sleep need, and on neurochemical markers of brain redox status. 1

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS078498-07
Application #
9881363
Study Section
Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, Rhythms and Sleep Study Section (NNRS)
Program Officer
He, Janet
Project Start
2012-02-15
Project End
2023-03-31
Budget Start
2020-04-01
Budget End
2021-03-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington State University
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041485301
City
Pullman
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
99164
Gerashchenko, Dmitry; Schmidt, Michelle A; Zielinski, Mark R et al. (2018) Sleep State Dependence of Optogenetically evoked Responses in Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase-positive Cells of the Cerebral Cortex. Neuroscience 379:189-201
Krueger, James M; Frank, Marcos G; Wisor, Jonathan P et al. (2016) Sleep function: Toward elucidating an enigma. Sleep Med Rev 28:46-54
Grønli, Janne; Rempe, Michael J; Clegern, William C et al. (2016) Beta EEG reflects sensory processing in active wakefulness and homeostatic sleep drive in quiet wakefulness. J Sleep Res 25:257-68
Grønli, Janne; Clegern, William C; Schmidt, Michelle A et al. (2016) Sleep Homeostatic and Waking Behavioral Phenotypes in Egr3-Deficient Mice Associated with Serotonin Receptor 5-HT2 Deficits. Sleep 39:2189-2199
Moore, Michele E; Loft, John M; Clegern, William C et al. (2015) Manipulating neuronal activity in the mouse brain with ultrasound: A comparison with optogenetic activation of the cerebral cortex. Neurosci Lett 604:183-7
Wisor, Jonathan P; Rempe, Michael J; Schmidt, Michelle A et al. (2013) Sleep slow-wave activity regulates cerebral glycolytic metabolism. Cereb Cortex 23:1978-87
Clegern, William C; Moore, Michele E; Schmidt, Michelle A et al. (2012) Simultaneous electroencephalography, real-time measurement of lactate concentration and optogenetic manipulation of neuronal activity in the rodent cerebral cortex. J Vis Exp :e4328