Dexmedetomidine Promotes NREM Sleep by Depressing Oxytocin Neurons in the Paraventricular Nucleus in Mice.
Neurochem Res
; 49(10): 2926-2939, 2024 Oct.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39078522
ABSTRACT
Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a highly selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist with sedative effects on sleep homeostasis. Oxytocin-expressing (OXT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus (PVNOXT) regulate sexual reproduction, drinking, sleep-wakefulness, and other instinctive behaviors. To investigate the effect of DEX on the activity and signal transmission of PVNOXT in regulating the sleep-wakefulness cycle. Here, we employed OXT-cre mice to selectively target and express the designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD)-based chemogenetic tool hM3D(Gq) in PVNOXT neurons. Combining chemogenetic methods with electroencephalogram (EEG) /electromyogram (EMG) recordings, we found that cannula injection of DEX in PVN significantly increased the duration of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in mice. Furthermore, the chemogenetic activation of PVNOXT neurons using i.p. injection of clozapine N-oxide (CNO) after cannula injection of DEX to PVN led to a substantial increase in wakefulness. Electrophysiological results showed that DEX decreased the frequency of action potential (AP) and the spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSC) of PVNOXT neurons through α2-adrenoceptors. Therefore, these results identify that DEX promotes sleep and maintains sleep homeostasis by inhibiting PVNOXT neurons through the α2-adrenoceptor.
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Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Núcleo Hipotalâmico Paraventricular
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Ocitocina
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Dexmedetomidina
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Neurônios
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neurochem Res
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China